Su Cassiano is a self taught photographer and visual artist born in Paris. After completing their studies in linguistics and literature, they then studied cinema which sparkled their interest for framing and light, photography and storytelling. After being a movie critic for a short period and working in an underground DVD editor’s shop in Paris, they grew tired of giving an opinion against someone else’s work. They started their own photography practice while traveling and fell in love with film.
Specialized in narrative portrait and documentary, their work is characterized by the intimate relationship and collaboration created with the people they portray. Their approach straddles an often blurred line between personal diary and documentary. It questions notions of identity, representation, gender and power dynamics in society’s fringes, bringing visibility to community that are usually at the periphery, which always felt like more like a center. They’re particularly interested in the transmission of inter generational trauma, gender based violence and stories of migrations and exile.
After living in Australia for 5 years, they are now based in Istanbul.
Their work has been exhibited internationally, including in Malta ( EuroPride 2024), Yangon, Myanmar (Yangon pride, 2020), Bristol (Royal Society Photography IPE162, 2020), Sydney (Head On Photo Festival, 2019, 2020, 2022), Melbourne, Istanbul and Tokyo (Slideluck, 2016). Publications and clients include The New York Times Magazine (U.S.A.), Frankie Magazine (Australia), Libération ( France), Hey Barista (USA) Lezs magazine ( Hong Kong), and Obscura.io (USA/Mexico)
In 2017 they won the Iris Award at the Perth Center for Photography. In 2022 they were an alumni of Eddie Adam workshop XXXV. In 2023, they were selected for the Representing Pride workshop organised by Holma, with the mentorship of Samira Damato and Tanya Habjouqa.
Contact :
su.cassianophotography@gmail.com/ + 61 404 949 725 ( Australia/WhatsApp)
Photo by Tristan Still