Danish photojournalist Mads Nissen recenlty won the World Press Photo 2015, currently on display in Macau. He believes his images can change the world
Danish photographer Mads Nissen was awarded the world’s highest award in photojournalism for his intimate portrait of a moment of privacy between a gay couple in an apartment in St. Petersburg, Russia, a country where sexual minorities are victims of discrimination and persecution. Discrimination, harassment and violent attacks carried out by nationalist and religious groups on sexual minorities are the themes behind Nissen’s work. This particular photograph is part of his series: Homophobia in Russia. Nissen spoke to CLOSER about his motivations and concerns behind this iconic image, winner of the 58th edition of the World Press Photo.

What led you to the theme Homophobia in Russia?
I’ve always been interested in the issue of human rights. It all started in 2013, when I was in St. Petersburg. Before going, I knew that an anti-gay law was being prepared in Russia. To me this represented a gross violation of human rights. I went to St. Petersburg to find out more. At a gay parade I witnessed an attack on a gay man named Pavel. I was near Pavel when a homophobe screamed at him, “Are you fagot?” Very calmly, Pavel said: “Yes.” The homophobe attacked and punched him in the face. Witnessing this situation shocked me. I felt a lot of anger and sadness and thought I had to do something. I did not enter the fray, but felt that as a witness I had a responsibility. That’s how this issue has become a personal one for me. Despite not being homosexual myself, at that moment the issue became a personal one.
Can photography change attitudes and the way people see the world?
Absolutely. The power of photography is enormous. It’s difficult to determine how this influence takes place, and the speed at which change can occur, but I am strongly convinced that it does. If I didn’t believe photography could change things, I wouldn’t do the work I do.
How did this couple feel about exposing their intimacy to the world?
It is obvious that it represents something huge for them too. Jan and Alex are both gay activists in St. Petersburg. They fight to be accepted for who they are. I think that winning this award and being in the winning photo, is already a form of acceptance of what they represent. They have started to tell the world who they are, how they feel, and in that sense, they are very satisfied with the attention it is attracting.
The World Press Photo exhibition will be in St. Petersburg and Moscow. What has been the reaction to it in Russia so far?
I compare this moment to when a Chinese man won the Nobel Prize [Liu Xiaobo, Nobel Peace Prize in 2010]. It didn’t create much debate among Chinese people because most didn’t know about it. That was my impression when I was in China. When this photo of Jon and Alex won, it wasn’t published, nor did it generate any debate in the Russian media.
Receiving the World Press Photo Grand Prix is a great honour. What does it mean to you?
On a personal level it’s fantastic. I became a photographer to be able to tell important stories to the world. I think there is no better platform than this [the World Press Photo]. I think this photograph has already been seen by much of the world’s population and being able to raise the level of awareness and concern about this issue of human rights makes me very happy and gives me more courage and energy to continue doing my job.
The exhibition of the winning images was inaugurated on 10 October at Casa Garden and will run until 1 November. In Asia, only Macau, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan are exhibiting the photographs.
> WORLD PRESS PHOTO 15: MACAU @ CASA GARDEN
Organized by Casa de Portugal
OCTOBER 10 – NOVEMBER 1, 2015 (CLOSED ON MONDAYS)
Sunday 14:00 – 18:00; Tuesday – Saturday: 10:00 – 19:00