« Ici c’est l’aquarium, dehors c’est l’océan » – part 1/2 2018
This project arose from a desire to give a voice to those located on the invisible margins of society – female inmates. To avoid a stigmatizing approach, my project invites these women to express themselves through a visual language, both corporal and oneiric, in stark contrast to penitentiary discretion: that of fashion photography. Staying away of the stereotypical approach allows me to bring new perspectives upon this topic, creating new points of view upon incarceration. Thus, this project aims at the visibilization of women inmates, which is heavily lacking today. By enabling an inner voice, which their bodies articulate through garments, I seek to reclaim and restore their self-image and identity.
Note: According to the Swiss law, inmates names and faces have to remain concealed regarding the public space.
« Ici c’est l’aquarium, dehors c’est l’océan » – part 2/2 2018
This project arose from a desire to give a voice to those located on the invisible margins of society – female inmates. To avoid a stigmatizing approach, my project invites these women to express themselves through a visual language, both corporal and oneiric, in stark contrast to penitentiary discretion: that of fashion photography. Staying away of the stereotypical approach allows me to bring new perspectives upon this topic, creating new points of view upon incarceration. Thus, this project aims at the visibilization of women inmates, which is heavily lacking today. By enabling an inner voice, which their bodies articulate through garments, I seek to reclaim and restore their self-image and identity.
Note: According to the Swiss law, inmates names and faces have to remain concealed regarding the public space.
« Ici c’est l’aquarium, dehors c’est l’océan, Mme W. », 2018
This project arose from a desire to give a voice to those located on the invisible margins of society – female inmates. To avoid a stigmatizing approach, my project invites these women to express themselves through a visual language, both corporal and oneiric, in stark contrast to penitentiary discretion: that of fashion photography. Staying away of the stereotypical approach allows me to bring new perspectives upon this topic, creating new points of view upon incarceration. Thus, this project aims at the visibilization of women inmates, which is heavily lacking today. By enabling an inner voice, which their bodies articulate through garments, I seek to reclaim and restore their self-image and identity.
Note: According to the Swiss law, inmates names and faces have to remain concealed regarding the public space.
Note: The text above was written by the Artist. No modification was made by COCA.
Matei Focseneanu
Switzerland
In 2015, after having experienced several activities in the political, musical and computer fields, I finally turned to photography after a journey in Lebanon where I spent number of hours wandering with my camera through the pacified nights of an overheated city. Back from this trip, I started CEPV school in Vevey, Switzerland.
In 2018, after three years of study, I got my diploma with the project “Ici c’est l’aquarium, dehors c’est l’océan”. This is the result of several shooting sessions with convicts inside a Swiss prison, wearing clothing made by three fashion designers from the HEAD school in Geneva, Switzerland.
In 2019, after finishing my artistic photographic studies, I moved to Paris in order to achieve my education working as an assistant at Studio Zéro, then for various fashion and portrait photographers.
Nowadays, I am promoting this project, trying to get opportunities to exhibit these images in order to connect these inmates to the public eye.