Documentary photographer Mads Nissen (b. 1979, Denmark)

For Mads Nissen photography is all about empathy – creating understanding, a closeness, an intimacy. He strives to build that connection while focusing on contemporary social issues such as inequality, human rights violations and our often destructive relationship with nature.

Mads graduated with distinction from The Danish School of Media and Journalism in 2007. After graduating he moved to Shanghai to document the human and social consequences of China’s historic economic rise. Since 2014 he has worked as a staff photographer at the Danish daily Politiken, a newspaper internationally praised for its strong commitment to visual journalism. In addition to Politiken, his images have been published in Time, Newsweek, CNN, National Geographic, The Guardian, Stern, Der Spiegel and many publications.

He frequently gives lectures and workshop and has had solo-exhibitions across Europe and Latin America in such places as The Nobel Peace Center (Norway), The National Museum (Colombia), GAF (Germany), Frederiksborg Slot (Denmark) and Festival dela Fotografia Etica (Italy).

In 2021 and in 2015, his photographs were selected as World Press Photo of the Year and his work have received more than 60 awards. In 2018 he was named ‘Photographer of the Year’ for the third time in Denmark. He has also twice been shortlisted as ‘Photographer of the Year’ at the Pictures of the Year International Award (POYi).

Mads Nissen has published three photo books: ‘The Fallen’ (People’s Press), ‘AMAZONAS’ (Gyldendal) and most recently the award-winning ‘We are Indestructible’ (GOST Books). This book provides a glimpse of the multi-layered seams of Colombia’s past, present and future and is the culmination of many years of work in the country. It provides a portrait of a war-torn country navigating the complexities of newfound peace after more than 50-years of conflict.