jeweled {fine art series}
Courtesy of the Sophie Maree Gallery

click to enlarge

ARTIST STATEMENT
As an Albino, the way you are perceived and treated is very dependent on where you live in this world. In western society the fact that albinism is so rare, people often view it as unique and sometimes even beautiful. This perception is very similar to how we value jewels. The more rare and uncommon a gem is, the more valuable and treasured it becomes. However these values do not apply to all.
In some parts of Africa Albinism is shrouded in a superstition from the past, where it was believed that the limbs of a person with Albinism would bring prosperity. The spiritual leaders of the tribes that, in those times, were people of power and status, thus never questioned, imposed this notion. People with Albinism became persecuted and driven into isolated communities in fear of their lives.
With the ability to share information more easily in our modern world, slowly but surely a new future is shaping, where the new generation revolts against old believes and makes up their own mind about what is accepted and beautiful.
Photography/Creative Direction/Styling: Justine Tjallinks
Hair & make-up: Danine Zwets (AHM)
Fashion design: Lisi Herrebrugh

Justine Tjallinks (born 1984) is an Amsterdam-based Dutch Photographer and Art-Director.
After graduating from the Amsterdam Fashion Institute cum laude, she moved on to work as the Art-Director for one of the leading fashion titles in the Netherlands. After a few years working with photography at the magazine, she realized that she wanted her own vision towards beauty to come to life through photography and decided
to take the leap towards a new career.
Justine is now a self-taught photographer and takes pride in photographing remarkable individuals, often backed by a story of social importance. These people have a unique appearance, or sometimes even a physical abnormality. The key take-away is always to show how beautiful diversity can be. There’s a stillness and honesty in all of her portraits and viewing her works will give a sense of intimacy between you and the subject.
The master painters from the Dutch Golden Age inspire her works. The way they controlled light and used their skilled brush techniques are applied to modern photography. Justine’s signature style leans towards fine-arts photography, but blends in a fashion aesthetic.
Justine her works have been exhibited in international venues and she has been fortunate to have won several international awards in her short career as a photographer.

International Award Winner • Ones to Watch British Journal of Photography 2017 • 1st prize LensCulture Portrait Awards 2016