Lee-Ann Olwage (@leeannolwage) is a visual storyteller from South Africa whose creative philosophy is to explore themes related to gender and identity through collaborative storytelling, using the medium of photography as a way to co-create and celebrate.
She excels at creating an authentic yet engaging space where the people she works with can actively participate in creating images that tell their stories in ways they feel are affirming and celebratory. This is a dynamic and positive model that can have an impact on the real world, and we can fully feel this in her work The Right to Play. It was created by Olwage and young students from Kenya's non-profit organization Kakenya's Dream, who together weave a colorful picture of dreams, education, and empowerment.
Kakenya's Dream School was founded by Dr. Kakenya Ntaiya, a prominent Kenyan woman who escaped the shackles of arranged marriage. Its aims to enhance the self-awareness and empowerment of rural girls through diverse educational and practical activities and hopes to lead the transformation of rural communities in Kenya, end bad practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation, and make girls an important force for social change.
When Olwage met the young students at Kakenya's Dream, they touched her deeply with their thirst for knowledge and boundless vision for the future. So, she decided to use the camera to record this innocence and tenacity. She skillfully blends narrative, collaboration, and play elements to create a space where girls are free to express themselves and have fun. She invited the girls to be personally involved in the filming process, directing their own image presentation and giving immediate feedback. She was pleasantly surprised by the girls' confidence and clarity of thinking. For example, during the shooting, one girl did not hesitate to grab a chair, confidently climb onto it, and strike an elegant pose, and her confidence was amazing. Working with girls has given Olwage a deep sense of the power of pursuing dreams, as well as the vast possibilities for empowered girls.
Olwage also adorns girls' portraits with flowers to celebrate their innocence and beauty, while silently protesting against traditional restraints such as arranged marriages. It is worth mentioning that the flowers on the portraits are not simple digital superposition, but her carefully printed portraits of the girls then placed flowers on the physical photos and re-shot. She believes that working with prints and flowers is a unique meditative experience, and each time she combines flowers with prints and tries different layouts, it is an in-depth exploration. At the same time, the symbolic meaning of flowers also implies the symbolic meaning of the wedding, and in this context, child marriage robs young girls of their future and dreams. Therefore, the use of flowers in the image has become a symbol for girls to reclaim their future and dreams.
"The Right to Play" is not only a beautiful portrait but also a passionate statement about dreams, education, and change. With her unique work, Olwage shows the world the potential and brilliance of girls when they have access to education.
This work won the 2023 Sony World Photography Awards. In the same year, she also won the World Press Photo Award, International Women in Photo Award and Siena Creative Photo Award.
