ArtAsiaPacific: Lingering Scars Farzana Hossen

From Dhaka, 32-year-old photographer Farzana Hossen has produced a harrowing document called “Lingering Scars” (2013), a series of photographs depicting women victims of acid attacks. Hossen is one of 13 photographers taking part in an exhibition called “Voice of Tacitness: Asian Women Photography,” currently running at the Hong Kong Arts Centre from October 19 until November 2.

According to Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF) in Bangladesh, from 1999 to 2011 there were 1,084 reported cases of acid assaults against women. Most of these attacks were marriage related, or lovers spurned, and far too often women are blamed for family breakups and divorce. Worse still, is the fact that both society and state have often turned a blind eye to the situation.

Violence against women is an ongoing issue that has been addressed by many artists, but none with the sobering directness and honesty that are shown through Hossen’s body of work. Her bravery and sensitivity in the portrayal of these women are admirable, and the trust she has established with them comes across in her images. Upon first viewing the photographs, one is almost affronted by the horror, but those immediate responses are soon overtaken by an unbelievable sadness and at the same time, the courage and warmth displayed between the subjects and the photographer. Hossen wrote:

“I intend to work with women and girls who have survived an acid attack, and are trying to rebuild their lives despite carrying horrific mental and physical wounds. This is a profoundly personal undertaking and an important part of reflecting upon my past. I plan to travel to ten different districts of Bangladesh where groups of survivors have built support structures. I want to document their lives, their struggles, their sufferings and their resilience. The stories of these women will shed light on a very dark corner of human existence. They will give voice to individuals who’ve been silenced by their oppressors. They will tell the world that we need to campaign for women’s rights.”

Hossen was awarded the Ian Parry Scholarship in 2013 for her work in “Lingering Scars.” The scholarship, named for London’s Sunday Times photographer killed at the age of 24 while covering the Romanian Revolution (1989), supports projects by full-time photography students and photographers under the age of 24. In March, Hossen also received the 2014 Alexia Foundation Award of Excellence Grant for “Lingering Scars.”

Here are selected photographs from this series. For more on Farzana Hossen, please visit: http://farzanahossen.wordpress.com/

Munira, 21, in the backyard of a neighbor’s house in Dhaka. Munira was attacked with acid at the age of eleven when she refused to accept a love proposal of a man who was 22 years old. In 2003, Munira was sleeping with her mother inside their home in the rural village of Netrokona. At 2 am one night, her attacker broke down the door of the house and threw acid on her. He has never been punished as he was able to bribe authorities to escape penalty. Copyright the artist.

Moni,15, on her mother’s lap in Acid Survivors Foundation in Dhaka. Copyright the artist.

Moni, 15, at her home in Rangpur. In 2012, Moni was in grade nine at school. She was attacked with acid after refusing to love and marry a man who was 21 years old. She has lost her eyesight completely in one eye, and cannot afford the cost of an operation that could repair sight in the other. Copyright the artist.

Moni, 15, at her home in Rangpur with her mother. Copyright the artist.

A photograph of Marifa, 22. Marifa was a student of Pharmacy in the University of Chittagong. In June 2011, she attempted suicide by drinking acid after a male classmate spread rumors about her when she refused to accept his love proposal. She died in February 2012 from injuries caused by her suicide attempt. Copyright the artist.

Salma, 42, is a mother of three daughters. Her husband Mohammed Delwar Hossen, 50, threw acid on her in 1997, after nine years of marriage. Salma’s eldest daughter says, “My mother was beautiful and was the main person who earned money for our family. My father used to take all the money for gambling and as she was beautiful he thought she could divorce him and could marry someone else. That was the reason he threw acid on my mom.” Copyright the artist.

Sheema, 17, massaging the swollen skin of Moni, 15, at Acid Survivors Foundation hospital. Copyright the artist.

Sheema, 17, and Reema, 18, in a room at the Acid Survivors Foundation, Dhaka. They became friends after living together at the hospital. Copyright the artist.

In 2010, Maksuda, 27, was dowsed with kerosene by her husband after a fight. Maksuda still lives with Aladin Miah, 40, who continues to beat her. She gave birth to a baby boy in 2013. Copyright the artist.

Copyright the artist.

Billy Kung is photo editor at ArtAsiaPacific.

Tools

| More

Sep 2014

Back to Blog

“Lingering Scars” by Farzana Hossen