Milene
“We don’t dream for nothing, it’s up to us to live our dreams.”
As a documentary photographer, Milene aims to raise awareness on various social issues by highlighting the experiences of those victim to them. She is driven by both social justice and human connection. Milene’s art has taken her from refugee camps to remote African villages. She is determined to produce art that is more than just an image; she does this by connecting with those she photographs, by staying with them and listening to their stories, attempting to understand their experiences. This authenticity and emotion translates strongly through her work. She is a free spirit who followed her dreams and never let society tell her what to do. She is an artist and an advocate who is driven by adventure and a desire to tell true stories. Meet Milene. This is her story.
Milene, on an adventure (her happy place)
P: Please introduce yourself!
M: I am Milene, a documentary photographer from The Hague, The Netherlands. With my photography I focus on social issues such as migrations around the world.
P: Describe or define yourself in your own words.
M: I am an emotional person, that's also what is visible in my photos. I like to connect with people whom I photograph, they are more than just the subject of the photo. And I'm very attached to my (privileged) freedom and therefore live often like a nomad around the world (at the moment travelling with a Volkswagen van to China). I'm not fitting in the general ideas of society, where one should have a career or a woman of mid-thirties should get a baby cause the clock is ticking.
No, I'm a free spirit, wanting adventures instead of money and exploring the world instead of motherhood.
P: What is your favourite thing about yourself?
M: That I always chase my dreams whatever people think of them. This brought me so so much. We don't dream for nothing, it's up to us to live our dreams.
P: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that’s defined you or made you stronger?
M: There is not one story that defined me or made me stronger. All stories together made me stronger, such as; living in Uganda on my own in a village quite remote for a year. It was a lifetime experience. But also, staying (and sleeping over) in a refugee camp made me understand much more of the people I photograph and get a true connection. And also now driving with my Volkswagen van (and boyfriend) to China and immersing myself in so many different cultures is such an important experience. Letting go of all you know and what is normal to you, to accept what seems weird or not normal to you.
P: What is one piece of advice you would give to your younger self?
M: When I was younger I often tried to fit in, which I didn't. I wanted to be part of 'a group' but I couldn't because I just enjoyed moving between groups. So, I want to tell to my younger self that not belonging to one particular group is good. Be yourself and don't try to fit in anywhere. You don't have to be like anyone else, you can be whatever you want to be and do whatever you want to do.
P: What does being a woman mean to you?
M: It doesn't mean much to me to be honest. I mean, gender doesn't really matter. Being a woman is not something I had to work for, it's just who I am :-) And yeah, it's fun. But I'm sure being born a man I would feel fine as well.
P: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say to her if she were here now?
M: One woman that inspired me throughout my life is Alexine Tinne. She was born in 1835 in my hometown. Her mother was a good friend to the queen of the Netherlands, so yeah they were wealthy. But, even though marrying was something women should do in these times, Alexine did not. Instead, she travelled to remote places and was the first Western woman to try to cross the Sahara and followed the Nile. She inspires me because she didn't care what people thought of her, what society expected of her and what her family wanted from her. She did what she wanted to do; exploring. If she were here now I would just tell her she is so right to chase her dreams, to not listen to people and do whatever she likes. But she wouldn't need my words, she already did all that on her own!