Documentary photography specialist Mario Macilau has been awarded a prize in photography by Claussee 36, a prestigious German cultural institution of recognized merit in various artistic fields.

The award will allow him to develop, next year, an artistic-photographic project involving the cities of Maputo and Berlin.

Mário Macilau was born in Maputo, and currently divides his residence between the Mozambican capital and Lisbon.

He learned photography in 2003 and became a full-time professional photographer in 2007.

A few years later, his photography crossed borders and today he is an indispensable figure in documentary photography, having won several awards.

His photographic activity focuses on themes such as identity, political and environmental issues.

Often, portraiture has been his starting point, and his approach instrumental in revealing a broader perspective.

Claussee 36 is an art space that was built in 1986 as a Prussian officers' house.

At the beginning of the pandemic, the center designed a project for a group exhibition to answer questions of the environment and sustainability. It was during this period that Macilau's photography invaded the halls of Claussee 36, leaving the exhibition curator impressed.