Maria Haas from Klosterneuburg focuses almost entirely on photographing women – strong women in the forms of society they have shaped all over the world. “I was fascinated by the fact that there are matriarchal societies in which the woman is at the center but is not a kind of ruler, it’s usually an egalitarian social system.”

Her first journey took her to China in 2016, where she met the Mosuo people. The portrait of a local matriarch adorns the cover of her first photo book entitled “Matriarchinnen”, which has meanwhile been nominated for the German Photo Book Prize. The passion grabbed her and since then she has been traveling all over the world – in Indonesia, India, Mexico and Costa Rica. There is already a second “Matriarchinnen” book.

Almost always created the necessary trust

She almost always manages to build up the necessary trust to ultimately be able to take the photos, as she explains: “I’m very careful with people. I try to start a conversation with them so that we can exchange ideas. I tell them regarding me, then they ask themselves, and trust develops. This usually happens very quickly, these people are very approachable and open. That always happens with translators, because English doesn’t get you very far there. Your own language is then often a door opener.”

Exhibitions in Berlin and Switzerland

She is currently preparing for an exhibition in Switzerland. Her pictures have recently been shown at exhibitions in Berlin, in Waidhofen an der Ybbs and also in Vienna at the feminist educational association “Frauenhetz”. “The ball is starting to roll faster and faster, which makes me very happy because I want to bring these strong women and their families and the matriarchal structures into the world more in general. Because I think these are values ​​that we can learn from in our patriarchal culture,” says the Klosterneuburg photographer.