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Photo Exhibition “My Photo, My Voice: Daily Lives, Difficulties and Dreams of Myanmar Migrants in Thailand”
20 December, 2022 @ 10:00 am - 30 December, 2022 @ 8:00 pm
Millions of Myanmar migrants live and work in Thailand, amongst others serving important economic sectors such as tourism and agriculture. This is the case for thousands of predominantly ethnic Bamar migrant workers in the hotels and restaurants on the Island of Koh Tao in Surat Thani Province, and in the fields of Phop Phra District in Tak Province.
The vast majority of these migrants have come to Thailand with the purpose to save up to buy land, build a house and set up a livelihood in Myanmar. Rights violations in relation to their salaries, poor living conditions, health and legal status, however, leave them in extreme precarity. This makes it difficult, if not impossible, for many to save up, extending their time away from their family and homeland indefinitely. Indeed, many, in reality, often stay for decades. This highly uncertain situation worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and currently, inflation and the coup engender new challenges.
The migrant workers are very aware of the injustices they face, yet they have few opportunities to express their experiences and claim their rights. This exhibition aims to provide a space for the migrants to do so through Photo Voice. In 2022, 35 young women and men attended trainings in photography and storytelling to document their daily life, difficulties and dreams. Today, their work is in front of you.
The photos were selected in collaboration with the migrants, who are very proud to share their photos and their stories about exploitation, insecurity, homesickness, pride and hope. As expressed by one migrant: “these are not just beautiful photos there are a lot of feelings in there”.
The exhibition is supported by the “Staying Resilience Amid the Pandemic in Southeast Asia” initiative of SEA Junction in partnership with CMB and co-supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 801199.
For more information regarding the photovoice project, please contact Sofie Mortensen, PhD candidate: somo@ifro.ku.dk and Aung Htun Lin, SAW Foundation, aunghtunlin2010@gmail.com.
Organizer:
SEA Junction, established under the Thai non-profit organization Foundation for Southeast Asia Studies (ForSEA), aims to foster understanding and appreciation of Southeast Asia in all its socio-cultural dimensions, from arts and lifestyles to economy and development. Conveniently located at Room 408 of the Bangkok Arts and Culture Center or BACC (across MBK, BTS National Stadium), SEA Junction facilitates public access to knowledge resources and exchanges among students, practitioners and Southeast Asia lovers. For more information, see www.seajunction.org, join the Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/1693058870976440/ and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @seajunction
