Living with land mines

Seng was eight years old when she stepped on a land mine while collecting firewood. She loves to design clothing and dreams of becoming a tailor or fashion designer.(V. Tony Hauser)

When Canadian portrait photographer V. Tony Hauser went to Cambodia to take pictures of the famous Temple of Angkor Wat, he was impressed by the ancient artistry — the dancing figures, prancing animals and lotus rosettes carved so elegantly into stone. But in the shadows of the temples, he found a different kind of beauty: the dignity of young victims of landmines.

A year after his first encounter with the children, he returned to photograph them. He took their pictures against a seamless canvas backdrop using a 4 by 5 view camera.

“I hoped to elevate them and, at the same time, reveal my admiration for their strength and defiance in facing the daily fear of living with land mines,” says the Toronto-based photographer in his artist’s statement.

And now those photographs are coming to Dalhousie. Living with Land Mines is an exhibition of 16 life-size portraits of Cambodian children who have survived a land mine accident. As part of International Education Week (Nov. 12 to 16), the exhibition will be on display in the Dal SUB from Tuesday, Nov. 13 to Saturday, Nov. 27.

The objective of the exhibit is to educate viewers and confront them with the devastating consequences that land mines have on the world. This fall marks the 10th anniversary of the implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty.

Mr. Hauser will lead a panel to discuss Living with Land Mines on Tuesday, Nov. 13, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Ondaatje Auditorium, Marion McCain Building. The exhibition and panel discussion is presented by Dalhousie Student Union and International Student & Exchange Services office.