honorable mention
Peter Hershey united states
title
Songs of the Homeland
In the midst of this diaspora, the Karen remain united through their cultural identity. They have vibrant musical traditions deeply tied into their way of life.
In the spring of 2016, I spent two months living with the Karen people on the Thai-Myanmar border. Despite modern technology and the musical influences it brings into their homes, I met many Karen people dedicated to passing their musical traditions to the next generation. As they work to preserve their culture in song, these images document a rich identity in their homeland and present it to those living elsewhere, Karen and non-Karen alike.
He graduated from Kutztown University with a BFA in Communication Design, then worked as a graphic designer for four years. In 2016, he founded The Noted Project, telling the stories of displaced Karen musicians living on the Thai-Burma border. In the future, he hopes to continue telling stories from around the world of how music and life intersect.
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entry description
The Karen are an ethnic group native to the eastern mountainous region and Irrawaddy delta of Myanmar. For decades, their living situation in Myanmar has been marked by political unrest and persecution by the military. Hundreds of thousands of Karen people now live as refugees in Thailand, the United States, and several other countries around the globe.In the midst of this diaspora, the Karen remain united through their cultural identity. They have vibrant musical traditions deeply tied into their way of life.
In the spring of 2016, I spent two months living with the Karen people on the Thai-Myanmar border. Despite modern technology and the musical influences it brings into their homes, I met many Karen people dedicated to passing their musical traditions to the next generation. As they work to preserve their culture in song, these images document a rich identity in their homeland and present it to those living elsewhere, Karen and non-Karen alike.
about the photographer
Peter Hershey was born and raised in rural Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He developed an interest photography during his travels to Europe. He bought a digital camera, and every since has been fascinated with telling stories through visuals.He graduated from Kutztown University with a BFA in Communication Design, then worked as a graphic designer for four years. In 2016, he founded The Noted Project, telling the stories of displaced Karen musicians living on the Thai-Burma border. In the future, he hopes to continue telling stories from around the world of how music and life intersect.
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