A Dutch-Ghanaian won the Dior Photography Award Show at MEP in Paris, titled “How Do You Feel?”
A Dutch-Ghanaian, Joel Quayson, won the Dior Photography Award Show at MEP in Paris titled “How Do You Feel?”
“Show Us Who You Are”: Photographer Dutch-Ghanaian Joel Quayson on Identity, Art and the Future of Photography
Photographer Joel Quayson describes his creative process as something deeply personal—a blend of honesty, emotion, and authenticity.
When asked whether he searches for his collaborators’ “hidden selves” or aims to present something else entirely, Joel Quayson says it depends on the project—but authenticity is always central.
“It’s both,” he explains. “But it also depends on the topic I’m working on. I always tell my friends or the models, “Just be yourselves.” Don’t force anything. Just show us who you are.”
For Quayson, photography is not about constructing artificial identities. Instead, it is about revealing presence—through color, styling, expression, and natural character.
📷 A Camera as Mirror, Diary and Friend
According to him, his relationship with photography began at age 18, when he first picked up a camera to photograph his friends. What started as a hobby gradually evolved into something more serious.
He later studied at Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam, a Dutch arts institution known for graphic design and creative disciplines.
“It was still more of a hobby back then,” he says. “But it officially changed when I got my first paid job—a shoot for a glamour magazine.”
Though the assignment focused on photographing interview subjects rather than high fashion editorials, it marked a turning point.
“That’s when it felt real,” he recalls.
📸 200 Years of Photography—What’s Next?
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the first photograph—a milestone in visual history. In a world saturated with images on platforms like Instagram, the question arises: What role does photography still play?
Joel Quayson believes that while formats may evolve, the core of photography remains unchanged.
“Everything is evolving,” he says. “It can be fictional or non-fictional. But photography itself will stay the same. Maybe the way we expand it changes.”
He has already begun incorporating video elements into his work to broaden storytelling possibilities.
“Who knows where it’s going?” he adds. “But I think the essence will always remain.”
🎬 Cultural Pick: Charli XCX’s Sundance Debut
As part of his cultural recommendation, Joel Quayson highlights a new documentary-style film featuring pop icon Charli XCX, which recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
The film explores Charli’s rise to fame, the pressures of performing on large stages, and the emotional complexity behind sustaining success.
“There’s a lot of satire in it,” Charli XCX said at Sundance. “The idea of elongating a creative process—making something last even when it feels stale—that tension is something many artists experience.”
The project, directed by Agnes Amiri from an original idea by Charli XCX, marks the pop star’s first major film role. She stars alongside Rosanna Arquette and Alexander Skarsgård.
For Joel Quayson, Charli XCX’s appeal lies in her authenticity.
Speaking to France 24 Television in the Art Show interview, he said, “It’s how she moves, how she evolves, and how personal her music feels.” “Even when she changes direction, I’m still interested. Her lyrics resonate with me.”
✨ A Career Built on Authenticity
From photographing friends at 18 to working with magazines and expanding into multimedia storytelling, Joel Quayson’s journey reflects a simple philosophy: honesty in front of the lens.
In a digital age overflowing with curated images, his message is refreshingly straightforward:
Be yourself.
And let the camera do the rest.
