Photographer James Mackay creates portraits of political dissidents from Burma who pose with the names of political prisoners written on their raised palms, in reference to the Buddhist Abhaya Mudra hand symbol for fearlessness. Through this gesture, the men and women in Mackay’s portraits pay tribute to and stand in solidarity with their peers, who still remain imprisoned for their activities and beliefs.
This photo series is part of the Moving Walls 19 exhibition. Since its inception in 1998, Moving Walls has featured over 100 photographers whose works address a variety of social justice and human rights issues that coincide with the mission of the Open Society Foundations.
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Documentary Films
Q&A: Harnessing the Power of Documentary Storytelling
Orwa Nyrabia, artistic director of the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, talks to Open Society about his experiences in Syria as a child and during the war, and its impact on his worldview and creative path
Voices
Announcing Moving Walls 25: Another Way Home
Moving Walls 25: Another Way Home is an exhibition and fellowship honoring artists, journalists, and creative technologists who use documentary practice to explore the topic of migration.
Voices
How the Market Photo Workshop Has Invested in South African Photographers
Market Photo Workshop’s Lekgetho Makola, artist Lebohang Kganye, and Africa Is a Country’s Sean Jacobs discuss the role of photography in shaping memory and contemporary culture in South Africa.