The 6×6 Global Talent Program recognizes six visual storytellers from six global regions, to highlight talent from around the world and present stories with diverse perspectives. Valentina Sinis and Mathias Svold of the VII Mentor Program are two of the new talents from Europe.
Valentina Sinis is an Italian photographer living and working in China. Her work gravitates toward the quirky and unusual. She is attracted to realities and people that normally don’t get coverage in the media.
In Millennials Baghdad, Sinis documents how the young Iraqi population are rebuilding Iraq today, 16 years after the invasion of Iraq promised better lives for Iraqis after three decades of dictatorship. Among these young people, there are artists, emerging designers, intellectuals, photographers, and influencers.
“Watching the growth of Valentina’s work in rapid time has been inspiring. Both her work in China and being one of the few looking at the post-ISIS world in a unique way convinces me that she will be a perfect addition to the 6×6 Global Talent Program.”?— Ron Haviv on nominating Valentina Sinis.
Mathias Svold is a documentary photographer based in Denmark. His work often investigates how climate, people, and communities affect nature. In Coastland, Svold investigates how nature, people, and society use and impact the Danish coast, stretching over 8,750 kilometers. In recent years, there’s been a political debate in Denmark about whether to protect the coast or to develop it for tourism. The sea mercilessly eats away at the coast, placing houses and fields at risk, while climate change creates fear of devastating floods and rising water levels.
“Mathias is a skilled young documentary photographer. He is capable of following a long-term project until the end. He has a strong and consistent visual identity.” — Paolo Verzone on nominating Mathias Svold.
