Talented photographer Milan Gies shot an impressive series of young Dutch guys from Turkish and Moroccan descent he met in Amsterdam. BLEND spoke to Gies about this project and the underlying message of his photography.

Can you tell us who you are and what you do?
‘My name is Milan Gies, 34 years old. I graduated 2 years ago from the Photo Academy in Amsterdam. Until I was 24 years old, I had an immense inner drive that made me want to sit on the back of a horse and be part of a bigger thing. After a while of searching for this, I attended the Theater Academy and after that I switched to the Photo Academy, because I felt that I could express myself better through images. My work as a photographer started out purely autobiographical, due to the urge to create I always felt I had. I basically tried to give shape to the emotions that can take over my life at times. Life can hurt; I use these vulnerable feelings to create.’

How did you get in touch with BLEND Magazine?
‘I attended two of BLEND’s New Talent Portfolio Nights in Pakhuis de Zwijger. Ever since, I stayed in touch with the editor-in-chief and shared my new work every now and then.’

How did you come up with the idea for the series?
‘I started working on this project in November of last year and I adjusted the concept 4 or maybe even 5 times since then. Since I don’t earn enough money as an artist yet, I work as a taxi driver on the side. As a taxi driver I get in touch with people from all different layers of society. During work, I’ve often experienced how people treat Dutch-Moroccan and Dutch-Turkish citizens that are considered ‘troubled youth’ by some. I felt compassionate and was intrigued by their role in society. I tried to create a series that shows how these guys are free, if only they aren’t forced into a certain context. I searched for their real stories and characters and tried to grasp their vulnerability.’

Where did you find your models? Were they all willing to pose immediately?
‘I met Reda, a friend who introduced me to a lot of young people at Java Art in Amsterdam, where kids with different backgrounds come to explore art and learn about creativity. The underlying goal of Java Art is to develop these kids’ talents, in order to help them find jobs in the future and work on their education and c.v. I would set up my equipment every week and invite everyone to come on over and experiment with modeling in front of the camera. Some of the young guys didn’t feel comfortable modeling while others really went for it.’

Can you explain where the main concept in your work comes from?
‘I instinctively focus on men in my photography, because being a man fascinates me. In my photos I try to unravel the instinctive drive and masculinity that I recognize in some men. In my work I always try to get in touch with people on a deeper level. This might sound corny, but unraveling strangers’ characters really fascinates me. I think I can also reflect on myself through these projects.’

What are you working on now? Is there an exciting project we can expect you to present in a while?
‘I decided to leave the Netherlands for half a year. My roots lie in Slovenia and I’m going to explore the Balkan a bit more. It would be great to solely focus on my photography for a while and dive into the culture of eastern Europe. Bosnia especially appeals to me, I might be shooting a series there.’