Growing in Darkness

The poetic series of black and white photographs taken in Maputo, Mozambique, captures the existence of street children: the adversity of their environments, the endurance of their young but possibly condemned bodies, and their resilience that, daily, defies the inhumanity of their hardships. It is not a photo-reportage, but rather a poetic work that reverses the connections between the visible and what cannot be seen.

Mario Macilau's (born 1984) work has been recognized with awards and featured regularly in numerous solo and group exhibitions both in his home country and abroad, most recently at the Venice Biennial 2015.

Mario Macilau (b. 1984), was born and raised in Maputo, Mozambique, where he lives. He started his journey as photographer in 2003 and specializes in long term projects that focus on living and environmental conditions that affect socially isolated groups. Macilau’s work has been recognized with awards and featured regularly in numerous solo and group exhibitions in his home country and abroad including The Auction Room, London, Saatchi Gallery, London, Galeria Belo-Galsterer, Lisbon, The Johannesburg Art Fair, Bamako Biennial, Venice Biennial.