Conversations | Mauricio F. Corridan
Closer • Stories & Visuals
Interview by Lily McFly
Visuals by Mauricio F. Corridan
A conversation on beauty, the lifestyle of a nomad, and global culture with the Irish photographer from Berlin, Mauricio F. Corridan.
Photographer Mauricio F. Corridan, who is tall, fit, bearded, and always smiling, exhibits the same energy and brightness as his works. His photography carries no traces of imbalance; the photos he takes capture the beauty of the moment, either it is the hectic life of NYC or a poor village in Vietnam. I spoke to Mauricio when he was in Asia, traveling and living in South Korea, Thailand, and Indonesia.
“I always try to capture the beauty of things through the way I see and feel them. Taking pictures is probably my way of coping with my emotions and with life in general. It’s the one time when I actually forget about everything around me and put all of my energy in creating.”
mauricio f. corridan
LM: Please tell us a bit about your unique experience in Asia.
MC: Traveling and living in places like South Korea, Thailand or Indonesia was incredible. I joined a photography workshop in Vietnam when I started my degree, but I was only there for two weeks. Being there for 6 months is a completely different experience and South Korea was absolutely new to me. You barely see any foreigners in Seoul, so it’s easy too feel like and outsider at first.
I did an exchange semester there for four months and despite the communication issues, I have to say that the Korean nation is one of the friendliest and most helpful I have encountered. It felt good to be there. Being able to study there and to learn from my Korean teachers and classmates was a truly unique experience.
LM: You were born in Southern Ireland, raised in The Canary Islands, relocated to Berlin in your twenties. How has it shaped your character?
MC: Living in different places made me curious about other cultures and places in general. I didn’t have the typical Spanish or Irish childhood and I’m glad about that, as I am who I am today because of it. I had always enjoyed looking at beautiful imagery and watching nature and wildlife documentaries, but I had never actually thought about be- coming a professional photographer. A few years ago, I decided to find a new and more creative path. I started a degree in Photography and that has completely changed my life.
LM: You’ve got a degree in advertising and public relations. When did you realize that you wanted to become a photographer? Was it a turning point in your life?
MC: I had always enjoyed looking at beautiful imagery and watching nature and wildlife documentaries, but I had never actually thought about becoming a professional photographer. A few years ago, I decided to find a new and more creative path. I started a degree in Photography and that has completely changed my life. I’m currently studying a BA in Photography in Berlin.
LM: The world is in the global crisis right now, and everyday we witness pain, hunger, inequality, and violence. Yet your photography carries no traces of imbalance; the photos you post are beautifully curated, even when you document the hectic life of NYC or a poor village in Vietnam.
What is the message of your art?
MC: I’m a very passionate person with strong emotions and I often feel overwhelmed by the things happening in the world, probably more than I should. I always try to capture the beauty of things through the way I see and feel them. Taking pictures is probably my way of coping with my emotions and with life in general. It’s the one time when I actually forget about everything around me and put all of my energy in creating. I don’t know what my message is, perhaps I need to figure it out or perhaps I’ll never have an answer for this, but what I do want is for others to enjoy my work and feel all sorts of emotions when they look at it. As a photographer, I want to continue traveling and experiencing the world. •
