Painted Souls

"Painted Souls" is the result of an ongoing passion for exploring alternative cultures and traditions, where the subjects are photographed against a plain background.

"Painted Souls" is the result of an ongoing passion for exploring alternative cultures and traditions, where the subjects are photographed against a plain background in order to capture the full vibrancy of their traditional dress, and showcasing their artistic skills in the area of beautification. People photographed belong to Surma tribe that resides on the border between Ethiopia and South Sudan and one can claim that Surma are one of the most iconic tribes in Ethiopia. They still remain isolated, untouched by foreigners due to the location, lack of amenities and due to tribal conflicts. What makes them so iconic it is their imagination and artistic skills when it comes to beautification, decorating and being fashionable in their own way.

The Surma tribe use their bodies as a canvas, adorning themselves with pigment gleaned from powdered volcanic rock and natural materials such as flowers, leaves and grasses – as well as animal horns and shells – to create an aesthetic which is at once distinctive and endlessly inventive.

The artist wants to encourage the viewer to look beyond the poverty of many of the areas she travels to, and seek to provide a window on a world which is rarely seen or talked about. My work is constantly striving to empower all of us to see the beauty in our difference and diversity – to show that each of us is unique, and this is to be embraced and celebrated. With this portfolio I want to honor the beauty of the Surma people, to reveal their strengths and their pride.