GOD IS A
IT'S MOTHER EARTH
WOMAN
THE
WESTERN WALL
This photograph was captured in less than a minute after Marisa and her photographer climbed over a couple of gates to access to the most central rooftop overlooking the Western Wall. After publishing this image, one month after the events, the story travelled the world. This piece of history was sold for 30k euro in an online auction.
To understand religion
Is to understand reality
To know each flaw
in the words
of dead
men
To learn
Each lesson and its value
Each tradition
And its harm
To realize the difference
between what is sold as spirit
And that which is
the centered soul
To see the separation
That lies in the gap between following and freedom
The truth
That is in the distance between
church and god
To illuminate
that teachings are only beneficial
If they lead to willing transformation
It is in the way of wise men to make the river of reality
rigid and readable
As religions
Just as it is the way of wickedness to twist meanings
Making obscure what was plain to see
For fear and fame
As religious leaders
With armies of faithful followers
HAGIA SOPHIA
Women were once seen as an embodiment of the great mother, they were deeply honored and celebrated.
After the introduction of religion and patriarchy, religion and culture have been enforcing modesty codes for women all around the world.
Today, after thousands of years of suppression, women are increasingly taking stands for their right to freedom and personal agency.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSE WALKER
IN 2020 MARISA WAS SENTENCED TO 3 YEARS IN PRISON BY THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT
A NEW RELIGION CALLED LOVE
Written & Directed by Marisa Papen
Production: Frank Rose
Executive Production: Wise Up Productions
Production Manager: Jean Weustenraad
Director of Photography: Dries Vanderaerden
1stAssistant Camera : Patrick Nishimwe
Steadicam operator : Raphael Van Oostrum
Gaffers: Maxime Dambly - Georges Vanev
Construction: Adrien Meylan
Editor: Joachim Veszely
Colorist: Xavier Dockx
Recording mixer : Sonata Productions
Helpers: Jennifer Hons - Jordan Kidja
THE VATICAN
Thousands of years ago the priestess walked upon her sacred earth without fear. She was a woman who named her own Goddesses and who imagined the divine in her image and likeness. She revered her body as the vessel between heaven and earth and acknowledged all of life as part of her journey as the Priestess–the dark, the light, no difference. As the Sacred Feminine re-emerges, women all over the planet are remembering their connection with the Divine Feminine and reclaiming their role as Priestesses mediating between heaven and earth, dark and light, death and rebirth.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSE WALKER
"Vatican prison wasn't too bad, one of the cops asked if we wanted an espresso, which we did, so he went out in the city and got us one"
AVE MARISA
A 3D printed statue that displays a badass ‘Virgin Mary’ holding a black baby Jesus. The statue was part of the ‘God is a Woman’ campaign in 2019.
IN SEARCH OF ANCIENT EGYPT
It was Marisa’s dream to dance in Cleopatra’s footprints. Together with her photographer she traveled to Egypt in 2017 to make a pirouette into history… During one of her dance moves on the forgotten grounds in the temple of Luxor they got busted and thrown in jail. The next morning after testifying in court they were released because there was no actual proof that Marisa was completely nude (Jesse wiped the cards and retrieved the images afterwards).
One year after the events Marisa tried to enter Egypt again to attend a free diving course with a friend she had met during that memorable trip in Dahab. When Marisa tried sauntering through passport control she was interrupted and interrogated, and ended up spending 48 hours at the airport under extreme supervision. Her entry was cancelled and she was forced to step on the next flight back to Belgium.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JESSE WALKER
