Portrait that captures resilience and spirit of Sierra Leonean village shortlisted for major international photography prize

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30 August 2018
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Image: WaterAid/Joey Lawrence

Photographer Joey Lawrence joins the shortlist for the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2018

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Today, it has been announced that photographer Joey Lawrence joins the shortlist of the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2018, organised by the National Portrait Gallery, for his portrait of Joe Smart, a young boy from the remote village of Tombohuaun in the Sierra Leonean jungle, as part of a project with international charity WaterAid.

Tombohuaun sits in the region of Kailahun, known locally as ‘the place where bad things come from’. It has faced adversity, disaster and devastation – but not despair. After years of unrest during the country’s civil war, as well as loss at the hands of an Ebola outbreak, the community was unable to restore its water supply. Villagers in Tombohuaun therefore relied on a dirty stream, and faced the daily risk of disease and even death from drinking dirty water.

Last winter, in the space of just a few months and with the support of UK aid from the British people, WaterAid helped every woman, man and child in the village gain access to clean water, decent toilets and hygiene knowledge as part of its Untapped campaign, transforming lives in the community.

During a two-week trip before the work began, Joey shot a series of images, making the community as much a part of the project as possible. Several of the photos were captured in a makeshift studio in the jungle, which the residents helped to create. Banana and palm leaves were laid out on the jungle floor, and bed sheets were hung to diffuse natural light.

Each character was asked to present themselves exactly as they wished to be seen. Villagers gathered and held their most cherished possessions with pride. The shortlisted portrait of six-year-old Joe Smart - nicknamed “Strong Joe” for his energy - was more spontaneous. Joe and his friends had made his mask out of leaves that morning, and young Joe wanted to keep it on for his portrait.

Photographer Joey Lawrence said:

“In capturing these photos in Tombohuaun, I wanted to inspire admiration and hope, rather than pity and sadness, to capture the locals as the determined individuals that they are. I’d photographed Joe Smart earlier that week, and in-between giggling, he always held an incredibly empowered expression.

“Projects like this are a dream for a photographer. The time I spent in Tombohuaun with WaterAid was an unforgettable experience, to document the lives of its residents as they strive to take their place in the world after devastation and loss. To be shortlisted for a Taylor Wessing Prize for my work there is a true honour because I admire so many of the photographers that have been featured in the past. That recognition goes some way in reassuring me that I’ve succeeded in capturing the resilient spirit of the people of Tombohuaun."

The annual Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize is one of the most prestigious photography awards in the world and showcases new work that has been submitted by some of the most exciting contemporary photographers. The Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2018 exhibition is at the National Portrait Gallery, London from18 October 2018 – 27 January 2019. The prizes will be announced on Tuesday 16 October 2018 at 19.00.

ENDS


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Notes to Editors:

WaterAid is working to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere within a generation. The international not-for-profit organisation works in 34 countries to change the lives of the poorest and most marginalised people. Since 1981, WaterAid has reached 25.8 million people with clean water and 25.1 million people with decent toilets. For more information, visit www.wateraid.org, follow @wateraid or @WaterAidPress on Twitter, or find WaterAid UK on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wateraid.

  • 844 million people in the world – one in nine – do not have clean water close to home. 1
  • 2.3 billion people in the world – almost one in three – do not have a decent toilet of their own. 2
  • Around 289,000 children under five die every year from diarrhoeal diseases caused by poor water and sanitation. That's almost 800 children a day, or one child every two minutes. 3
  • Every £1 invested in water and toilets returns an average of £4 in increased productivity. 4
  • Just £15 can provide one person with clean water. 5
  • To find out if countries are keeping their promises on water and sanitation, see the online database www.WASHwatch.org