3rd place
bronze star award
Farida Alam
bangladesh
title
Reflection of dispersed soul, hidden for years
I worked on third genders who are male but consider themselves as female. They express their true self through cross-dressing. They collect money to manage their day, or give pleasure at night just to survive! But they also have dreams that nobody cares. Those dreams become nightmares while clashing with reality.
There is a resemblance between broken mirror and the life of a third gender. A broken mirror can never be altered to a smooth mirror likewise the lives of a third gender cannot be altered to the life of a normal human being.
The red background in the broken mirror image is the symbol of the colorful world around them that does not accept them and the broken mirror is the symbol of disparity between body and mind.
On the other hand when they listen to their mind and dress up as women and behaves like one and makes a happy world of their own the world does not accept them and shuts its door for them. This is represented by the black background.
I wanted to tell these stories to my viewers so that they would try to understand the conflict and agony of a third gender and also the pride and courage they gather to put a smile in their faces, cause each of their stories, their struggle gives me strength to fight for my own. I wish that my viewers would realize that the third genders are like any normal human beings who do not need our sympathy rather our empathy.
I believe in immersion photography and spend months listening, observing and talking with my subjects over the course of a project. Photography has become a part of my identity - a force that makes me think, feel and understand human being and the human condition.
Currently, I am working with different social groups that are deprived of basic human needs. However, at the same time, I am exploring their traditional lifestyle and learning from it.
I have completed basic and foundation courses from “Pathshala South Asian Media Institute “. Later on, I also participated in a documentary photography course of Counter Photo, another renowned photography institute of Bangladesh. Currently, I am pursuing Diploma in photography from Alliance Francaise de Dhaka. I am a lifetime member of “Bangladesh Photographic Society (BPS)” and also a member of PSA (Photographic Society of America.
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entry description
Hijra is a social group, in which people are culturally defined either as transsexual or as men who become women by adopting women's dress and behavior. In Bangladesh, the Hijras are officially recognized as Third Gender by the government.I worked on third genders who are male but consider themselves as female. They express their true self through cross-dressing. They collect money to manage their day, or give pleasure at night just to survive! But they also have dreams that nobody cares. Those dreams become nightmares while clashing with reality.
There is a resemblance between broken mirror and the life of a third gender. A broken mirror can never be altered to a smooth mirror likewise the lives of a third gender cannot be altered to the life of a normal human being.
The red background in the broken mirror image is the symbol of the colorful world around them that does not accept them and the broken mirror is the symbol of disparity between body and mind.
On the other hand when they listen to their mind and dress up as women and behaves like one and makes a happy world of their own the world does not accept them and shuts its door for them. This is represented by the black background.
I wanted to tell these stories to my viewers so that they would try to understand the conflict and agony of a third gender and also the pride and courage they gather to put a smile in their faces, cause each of their stories, their struggle gives me strength to fight for my own. I wish that my viewers would realize that the third genders are like any normal human beings who do not need our sympathy rather our empathy.
about the photographer
My inspiration for photography comes from the people and my surroundings. I love to experience other cultures, meet different people from diverse communities.I believe in immersion photography and spend months listening, observing and talking with my subjects over the course of a project. Photography has become a part of my identity - a force that makes me think, feel and understand human being and the human condition.
Currently, I am working with different social groups that are deprived of basic human needs. However, at the same time, I am exploring their traditional lifestyle and learning from it.
I have completed basic and foundation courses from “Pathshala South Asian Media Institute “. Later on, I also participated in a documentary photography course of Counter Photo, another renowned photography institute of Bangladesh. Currently, I am pursuing Diploma in photography from Alliance Francaise de Dhaka. I am a lifetime member of “Bangladesh Photographic Society (BPS)” and also a member of PSA (Photographic Society of America.
back to gallery