Mascha Joustra graduated in May 2015 at the Fotoacademie Amsterdam, specializing in documentary and portrait series. She graduated with a cum laude recommendation on a large series of photographs bundled in a voluminous photo book called ‘Elders’ (‘Elsewhere’) and designed by SYB. In this series she is investigating the differences in culture on the country side in relation to history of religion in the Netherlands.

This photo book has been shortlisted for the ‘Unseen Dummy Award “ in Amsterdam, September 2015 and has been presented during Paris Photo 2015 at the Polycopies event at the Tipi Bookshop/Brussels.
Her graduation series called ‘Elders’ (‘Elsewhere’) has been received very well and made entrance to several (inter)national exhibitions.

I have the urge to tell and am interested in observing human behavior. I try to highlight human emotions in my work and at the same time I see beauty in objects or nature. Sometimes I spend more time talking to a person that photographing one. You could say my work is social documentary, but I think I use my images as metaphors to tell my own story. But the images are never staged or altered, that would feel wrong. It sometimes feels like a relief to express feelings through images.

I work with different cameras, analogue and digital, whatever is on hand..

>>>> exhibitions 2013-2018 | all group exhibitions

2018
special invitation for portfolio review. Landskrona Photo festival, Sweden
‘Wanderlust’/Galerie Sehnsucht, Rotterdam, Netherlands; curated by Eli Dijkers; image from series ‘fierce – fragile ‘
'Homeland’/ Galerie Sehnsucht, Rotterdam, Netherlands; curated by Otto Snoek; image from series 'Elders'
2017
‘Dark Rooms’/Galerie PAK. Bruges, Belgium; series ‘Elders’
Rencontres de la photographie; Atelier de la Mécanique , Arles, France; series 'genou | jambe | cuisse' result of workshop with Francoise Huguier
Zomerexpo, exhibit in Museum de Fundatie, Zwolle ‘fierce-fragile’ series.
Naarden Photofestival, Naarden Netherlands, group expo with series 'Elders'
2016
Fotomuseum Den Haag/ series ‘Elders’ ‘Boeren op het land‘ a tribute to Ed van der Elsken
'Absolution' Dordrecht, Netherlands
Photo festival Rotterdam
2015
Paris Photo, book presentation ‘Elders’ at Polycopies/Tipi bookshop
Unseen Photo festival Amsterdam, shortlisted Book Dummy Award with book 'Elders'
Lagos Photo festival; series ‘Elders’
Photoville New York; series ‘Elders’
Leiden Photo International Photo Festival; series ‘Elders’
Galerie Beaurepaire, Paris; Curated by Niccolò Hébel; series ‘Ruby Fruit’.
Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, Zomerexpo

>>>> masterclass:

Bieke Depoorter (Magnum);Ghent, Belgium. Organised by ‘Tell me a picture’. April 2018
Francoise Huguier;Arles, France. Les Rencontres de la Photographie/ Agence VU’. April 2017
Darcy Padilla; online masterclass. Lensculture; six sessions, January 2016
Anders Petersen; Amsterdam, Netherlands.Eyes in Progress, May 2015