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Contemporary Global Slavery
2007 marks the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery within the British Empire. However, two hundred years later, it is estimated that 27 million people across the globe are still enslaved. To help raise awareness of this ongoing human rights crisis, Autograph ABP has commissioned nine Magnum photographers to document slavery as it exists around the world in the anniversary year of its abolition. A major exhibition of the work will open at the Royal Festival Hall in London in February 2008, and will include work on bonded labourers, child labourers, trade slavery, people trafficking, and domestic and sex slavery. Chris Steele-Perkins shares his experience of photographing "Comfort Women" in Korea for the project. I am sitting in a fire station in South Korea waiting for an incident on the quietest day of the year - so it seems an appropriate moment to write something briefly as it was in South Korea at the end of last year that I did my work for the Slavery project photographing Comfort Women. Comfort Women was the term used to disguise the use of women as sex slaves to the Japanese military during the Pacific (Second World) War. It happened, not just in Korea, but throughout the region Japan controlled. Some of the Korean women have been particularly courageous and outspoken about what happened to them and organised into a group fighting for recognition of the crimes committed to them and for compensation from the Japanese government. In other countries this openness and organisation has not happened in the same way. For this reason I chose to work in Korea as I would be able to meet, photograph and talk to some of these women as they had already stepped forward to testify. Think for a moment what a sacrifice that is - to stand up in public, as an old woman, because they kept their shameful past well hidden up until recently, and tell how, for years, you had been systematically raped and abused by the troops of an invading army. It puts you beyond dirt. Yet it is a tribute to the support they have had in the new Korea, that they are now generally considered with great respect and sympathy. Who knows how many there were? We will never know as most are now dead, and only a few of those remaining have been able to face publicly acknowledging what happened to them over 50 years ago. These women are some of the oldest surviving slaves and I wanted to include them in this project as a reminder of slavery far removed from the African history, but similar in that it was sponsored and condoned by a national government, not some criminal gang. I chose to make very simply portraits of them, all in a similar way, and interview them in order to use the portrait and a part of their testimony as the way to represent them in the project. Along with a contextualising text it needs no further embellishment. It was an emotional experience as just about all of those who agreed to participate broke down in tears as they spoke of what happened to them. I did not photograph this, as I wanted to photograph them as I saw them: strong women who had survived with dignity. Women I admired. Chris Steele-Perkins, April 3, 2007 Contemporary Global Slavery is produced by Hayward Gallery Touring and generously supported by Arts Council England, MTV Europe Foundation, Concern and Christian Aid. Autograph ABP: www.autograph-abp.co.uk
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Reader comments (8)
The cause of war time slavery is different to the contemporary one, IMO. Economics is definitely the reason behind contemporary slavery issues. However, the image of suffering remains the same.
Comment posted by pharmacology on May 4, 2007
Mr. Steele-Perkins,
Id love to welcome you to my city (LOL). Well, it may not be mine but I live here and since Im a big fan Im happy that you dropped by:) How long will you stay?
As you know, this issue of the so-called comfort women is of huge import here in Korea and I would be very interested to see your take on the issue.
Comment posted by Rafal Pruszynski on May 4, 2007
Bravo Chris; this is profoundly important work you're doing.
Comment posted by Jason Vanderhill on May 4, 2007
Dear Mr. Steele-Perkins,
Thank you very much for sharing such an interesting topic with the wider world. I agree with the comment by poster three, Jason Vanderhill, that this is a profoundly important work you are doing.
There is a lot said about comfort women already but not yet enough. Yet somehow, this story is all too often approached from the women's point of view. Perhaps another interesting idea would be to make a simple series of portraits of the other side of this story - the Japanese who commited the crimes. And most preferably, placing the photos next to eachother in an exibition, one on one.
Comment posted by Daniel Leussink on May 9, 2007
Poignant work, something to remember and most people forget on our busy and so filled of futile interest society... Well done.
Comment posted by Ana Omelete on May 28, 2007
Dear Mr. Steele Perkins,
It’s disturbing to learn what one human being is going through in one part of the globe and what one in another. Its even more disturbing that it continues today and probably growing. To be very honest, I clicked on the 'Contemporary Global Slavery' link thinking it will also hi-light what's happening today. But your work I am sure definitely makes the common man think and hopefully do something about it. Being a journalist myself I too agree with Daniel Leussink, to bring forward those who commit these crimes.
To my understanding suffering is always a result of some sort of demand of assault. Come to think of it, money and sex industry that determines how we live and survive.
Quite an insightful documentation. I wish these shows travel to India and other developing countries.
Comment posted by ALOK JOHRI on July 10, 2007
Thanks for this testimony, for speak up, and tell the story of this people. Muchas gracias por su valentía al buscar estas historias y sacarlas a la luz, poder hablar en voz alta es parte del proceso de sanación. Le mando un fuerte abrazo, y le agradezco una vez mas por su valioso trabajo.
Comment posted by Celeste on July 21, 2007
Think for a moment what a sacrifice that is - to stand up in public, as an old woman, because they kept their shameful past well hidden up until recently, and tell how, for years, you had been systematically raped and abused by the troops of an invading army. It puts you beyond dirt.
No, it puts the japanese soldiers beyond dirt.
Comment posted by bananaranha on September 3, 2007