For this photo series, I created a narrative centered around a fictional character.
Kaatje is a young prostitute working in Amsterdam’s Red Light District during the 1950s. Haunted by a troubled past and a lifelong struggle with addiction, she carries a deep sense of unhappiness. When she falls in love with a client, they become engaged, but the relationship eventually falls apart. Overwhelmed by grief and hopelessness, Kaatje makes the tragic decision to end her life.
In death, she ascends to heaven, where she finally fulfills her long-held dream: to become a ballet dancer instead of a sex worker.
For this series, I challenged myself creatively by using store mannequins instead of real people. My goal was to evoke emotion without relying on human expressions, focusing instead on storytelling through lighting, composition, and camera technique.
LARA LIEBRAND 