In 'OLYMPIC FAVELA I portray the people affected by forced evictions in Rio de Janeiro's favelas ahead
of the World Cup (2014) and 2016 Olympic Games.

'OLYMPIC FAVELA' is composed of two bodies of work: One is a series of portraits of residents in 14 of Rio de Janeiro's impoverished communities who are facing evictions from their homes. The other is a series of performative images - here I directed the favela residents to pose for me holding emergency flares to create a visual representation of their struggle and resistance while using a gesture that is also universally associated with liberation, independence and celebration.

Olympic Favela

COWBOYS AND INDIANS introduces us to two insular, male-dominated communities.

The two communities are based on nearly opposite motivations: the “jackaroos” being in it for the money, out of necessity; the wrestlers choosing an athletic pastime tied
into their religious beliefs. Where they mirror one another is in that these young men immerse themselves in an environment where physicality becomes a centerpiece of their togetherness and interaction, a physicality that is inherently and in a classic sense masculine.

Cowboys and Indians

personal effects
pl.n.
Privately owned items, that are regularly worn or carried on one's person.
Used in customs declarations to identify unaccompanied personal goods.

These photographs reflect on the ideas of intimacy and distance - sought, gained, reaffirmed and lost.

Marc Ohrem-Leclef