The infamous Marisa Papen has made a comeback, posing nude at another risque location for Australian photographer Jesse Walker.
The Belgian model who made a name by being photographed naked at different holy or controversial sites has chosen Hagia Sophia for her latest shenanigans.
Papen, who once landed in jail after posing inside the Karnak Temple Complex in Egypt, posted the images on her Instagram account captioning it “Hagia Sofia – Praying for Equality”.
After buying a burka in the Grand Bazaar, the two headed off to the Hagia Sophia. They also took a nude pic with the temple in the background.
“After waiting in a long queue to enter, we were caught off guard with the amount of security cameras there. They literally have every square centimetre covered,” Papen said.
According to her, the picture was “a symbolic move against the tyranny of religion”.
In her blog she said that with her photographer, they were waiting for one of the guided group tours to arrive and the guide to start narrating the story of Hagia Sophia, a former Byzantine cathedral considered the ultimate symbol of Greek Orthodoxy and later an Ottoman mosque which is now used as a museum.
“Unlike Egypt, we did not have a solid plan this time. No preparation at all, but endless imagination and a pretty strong foundation.”
Papen, who describes herself as “free-spirited and wild-hearted expressionist” took pride on their plan saying: “We decided to wait for a guided group and while the guide was telling his story and everyone was paying attention, it was game-time.”
One of the photographer’s comments sparked outrage amongst Greek media and religious organisations as it alluded to Turkish authorities turning a blind eye.
“If you’ve ever been to the Hagia Sophia, you will know there’s never a day without thousands of people being around at all times,” Walker said.
Instagram took down the picture as it violates the platforms guidelines, but the duo re-uploaded it adding to the caption: “Attempt 2 – seems as IG is run by religious fools, too”.
