DARREN
SMITH
Overview
Mayflies
Advertising / Key Art
Editorial
About
News
Press
Contact
Shop
FOTOKRONIEK #112
Darren Smith - Photo Presentation
DARREN PRESENTS MAYFLIES AT PAKHUIS DE ZWIJGER.16 September 2025
Pakhuis de Zwijger
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Darren was interviewed on stage in 112th edition of Fotokroniek at Pakhuis de Zwijger.
Programmer Dymphie Braun and Darren Smith talked about MAYFLIES, and how identity and originality that emerges when people gather. As always, Fotokroniek gave the audience the opportunity to present their own questions and thoughts to add to the conversation.
ART OF CELEBRATION EXHIBITION
3 May - 1 September 2025
National Carnivals Museum
5211 ND Den Bosch the Netherlands
Selected carnivals, folklore, and religious festivities, from MAYFLIES at the ART OF CELEBRATION EXHIBITION.
The exhibition explores the enduring legacy of carnival traditions, tracing their evolution from ancient religion rites, attempting to influence the gods in their decisions, to contemporary social spectacles. Steeped in history, these celebrations share universal elements masks, costumes, dance, and communal gatherings often symbolising the triumph of light over darkness. Emerging from seasonal transitions, they form a rich, interconnected web of cultural rituals observed across the world.
These portraits highlight the deep cultural connections between diverse traditions, shaped by centuries of pagan rites, colonial influences, and medieval customs. Through his lens, Smith brings to life the immaterial heritage of camival, revealing both its uniqueness and its shared human spirit.
x FIREFLIES EXHIBITION
Up Helly Aa Fire Festival 2025
UP HELLY AA, AT X FIREFLIES EXHBITION, LERWICK, UNITED KINGDOM
January 26 - June 20 2025
Mareel Arts Centre
ZE1 0WQ Lerwick, United Kingdom
Selected carnivals, folklore, and religious festivities, from MAYFLIES, exhibited at x FIREFLIES.
Darren joined the curatorial panel for the selection of local photographers taken across Shetland’s fire festivals. The two joining exhibitions revealed the care, craftsmanship, and dedication that goes into every detail of Up Helly Aa, and the interplay of costume and identity.
KICKSTARTER MAYFLIES BOOK
Project Fully Funded
MAYFLIES KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN
10 October 2024
The Mayflies Kickstarter campaign has officially ended, and thanks to the incredible support of our backers, we raised 118% of our goal—fully funding the book’s production. After seven years of work, thousands of portraits, and countless moments of radical self-expression, Mayflies is now moving into its final stage: printing.
Exhibition KLPA 2024
Make it Real - Staged Narrative in Portraiture
VEVCANI CARNIVAL, AT MAKE IT REAL EXHIBITION, KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
21 July 2024
Temu House
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
One can argue that almost all portraits are staged in some way - be it using compositional cropping in the viewfinder, emphasis on subject placements or using selective focussing. Compared to the more elaborate or complex studio staging, a casual street portrait may seem spontaneously captured. KLPA2024 presents and highlight these 38 finalists portraits as selected by the jury from 1,200 images received under the theme Make It Real - Staged Narrative in Portraiture.
STEVEN LEE, FOUNDER
Vevcani Carnival, rooted in pagan traditions, is a vibrant, annual celebration in Vevcani, North Macedonia. Known for its elaborate masks and costumes, this festival marks the start of the Orthodox New Year, blending ancient rituals with satirical performances. Participants, embodying various characters, parade through the streets, engaging in acts that critique societal norms. This colorful, lively event not only preserves the rich cultural heritage of Vevchani but also attracts visitors
worldwide, eager to witness its unique blend of history, humor, and revelry.
PORTRAIT OF HUMANITY VOLUME 1.
200 Photographs That Celebrate Global Unity
RED LIGHT SANCTUARY, IN PORTRAIT OF HUMANITY VOL. 1
'Portrait of Humanity', 320pp, cloth spine, 237mm x 285mm.
In collaboration with 1854 Media and Magnum Photos.
What does it mean to be human today? These 200 portraits taken by photographers in over 65 countries celebrate global citizenship at a time of instability. Funny, revealing, and often moving, the faces and stories in this book show that we are all wonderfully unique, yet on some level, deeply the same.
Introduced by Lucy Davies.
ISBN: 978-1-910566-52-7