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The subjects of MASKED PORTRAITS (2005) are young Indian women
who have been rescued from human trafficking. With the aid of
clothing, poses and objects they represent their life in the past,
that was permeated with deception, abuse and violence. In order to
hide their identity, the women choose a character from the world of
religion, mythology, folklore or television. For instance, we see
elements of the housewife, Hindustani woman and Bollywood starlet,
symbols for tradition, religion and beauty. At the same time, the
masquerade represents the great change that the women have undergone
with respect to their earlier lives.
Before he began to photograph, Achinto Bhadra (India, b. 1959)
worked with the mentally handicapped. His photographic interests
focus particularly on women, migrants, child labor and urban poverty
in India.
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ANOTHER ME - INDIA TRAFFICKING &
GENDER ABUSE SURVIVORS PHOTOS-PROJECT
TRANSFORMATIONS FROM PAIN TO POWER
PHOTOGRAPHS BY ACHINTO BHADRA
In a unique project supported by the Terre
des hommes Foundation (Lausanne, Switzerland), the documentary
photographer Achinto Bhadra and counsellor Harleen Walia guided 126 girls
and women through a healing journey of psychological transformation.
Achinto’s portraits record trafficking survivors’ imaginative visions of
themselves as human, animistic and divine beings of power, love, revenge
and freedom.
The girls and women in
these photographs, from 8 to 25 years old, are survivors of trafficking,
rape or abandonment, or are the children of sex workers. They have been in
the care of Sanlaap, a non-governmental organization based in Kolkata,
India. The photography sessions were conducted at Sanlaap’s Sneha Girls
Shelter.
Through the months of the
project, the girls and women were assisted by the counsellor to narrate
their personal histories, the stories that they wanted to tell the world –
powerful stories of disappointed childhood, abuse, betrayal, abduction and
finally, slavery in the brothels. Following this, they were guided by the
counsellor and the photographer to identify an imaginary being into which
they most wanted to transform, an empowered physical expression of their
sorrow, anger and hope.
The
costumes and makeup were created by the girls and women with the artistic
guidance of the photographer. The photography sessions were conducted in
ritualistic silence, and for a brief time before the camera, each woman
and child transformed. The photography project has had a lasting impact on
the confidence and self-esteem of the participants – for each, the
transformation into ‘another me’ has become a healing experience.
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