The National Portrait Gallery Awards Claudio Rasano the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2016

Katelehong Matsenen is a young student who, as many other students in his school, is used to wear a uniform which he refuses as he wants to stand out and declare the evidence of difference. This photo, taken in Johannesburg in February 2016, is part of the series ” Similar Uniforms: We Refuse to Compare” which addresses issues of preserving individuality in the context of school uniforms.

The jury of the National Portrait Gallery, composed by Nicholas Cullinan, Philip Prodger, Carole Sandrin and Christiane Monarchi, Nadav Kander and Tim Eyles awarded the Italian-Swiss photographer (born in 1970, Basel, Switzerland) 15.000£ for his portrait of the Johannesburg schoolboy.

Claudio Rasano will be showcasing his new portraits series during the exhibition “Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2016” which runs from November 17, 2016 to February 26, 2017.