Darth Cornelius, Here Before (PORTRAIT 2024)

Moko is a project about how we as indigenous peoples, honour & represent the cultural traditions of our ancestors in the modern world, by marking and adorning ourselves, despite the repercussions this can cause for us economically in the modern world. I hope to shine a light on the strength and power of the young Maori men who choose to wear moko (Ancestral face & Body tattoos) and are beacons of support and hope in my community. Shot in Aotearoa (New Zealand) on Fujifilm's Pro400H 35mm film, this project has been a massive undertaking, and winning the prize would contribute massively to me being able to return to my homelands in West Africa, and document young men & women who choose to defy colonial oppression, and adorn themsleves with Kula, our traditional facial markings (scarrification.)

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.