# Sudanese Refugee Photography Mike Mellia's South Sudan Photography Project is Inspiring By Vasiliki Marapas | Published 2014-04-14 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/south-sudan-photography References: [itsnicethat](http://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/mike-mellia-sudan) & [mikemellia](http://www.mikemellia.com/our-side-of-the-story-south-sudan.html) The 'Our Side of the Story: South Sudan' [photography project](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/still-life-1) is the latest from New York photographer Mike Mellia. In an attempt to bring awareness to the struggles of the war-torn republic, Mellia collaborated with Nykhor Paul, a [former Sudanese refugee](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/allspace-1) turned model. The result is a heart-wrenchingly honest [portrait series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rhinoceros-gallery1), featuring 14 Sudanese nationals. The pain, suffering, bravery and perseverance of each of these individuals is communicated through Mellia's beautiful photographs. By giving them the opportunity to tell their story, Mellia encourages a dialogue about the ongoing violence. Speaking about the projects public reception, Mellia says, "I think the work has already impacted people in many ways, from raising awareness about South Sudan’s conflict, all the way to bringing up concerns that Africa might suffer another genocide, by encouraging people to unite for peace." ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.7/10 - Popularity: 58% | Activity: 75% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Photography](https://www.trendhunter.com/stylephotography) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Refugee Awareness:** The 'Our Side of the Story: South Sudan' project highlights the power of photography in raising awareness about the struggles of refugees. - **Creative Collaboration:** Mike Mellia's collaboration with Nykhor Paul demonstrates the potential for artists and activists to work together in creating impactful projects. - **Storytelling Through Imagery:** Mellia's portrait series showcases the ability of photography to communicate the pain, bravery, and perseverance of individuals impacted by war. ### Where This Applies - **Photography:** The 'Our Side of the Story: South Sudan' project presents an opportunity for photographers to use their art as a platform for social change and awareness. - **Fashion:** Nykhor Paul's involvement in the project highlights the potential for fashion industry professionals to contribute to humanitarian causes and engage in activism. - **Nonprofit Organizations:** The project's success in raising awareness about South Sudan's conflict showcases the potential for nonprofits to collaborate with artists to bring attention to important issues. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Travel-Inspired Canvas Paintings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-passport-series.md) - [Public Art Displays](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paul-anthony-smith.md) - [Student Art Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lebanese-students-design-in-conflict.md) - [British Youth-Culture Photography Books](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/home-and-away.md) - [Mental Health-Supporting Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-last-photo.md) - [Journalist-Focused Short Films](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-shooting.md) - [Sustainable Traveling Cups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/miir.md) - [Anti-Gender Violence Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/antigender-violence-campaign.md) - [Refugee-Supporting Ice Creams](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ben-jerrys-sunny-honey-home.md)