Project 547
Know Your Rights
Human Rights
Year 2011-2014
Human Rights
=the rights you have simply because you are human.
According to the united nation they are a total of 30 human rights
The universal declaration of human rights is the worlds widely accepted document on the subject.
Cyrus the great – Cyrus cylinder
Natural law Natural rights Human rights
Gandi was the one who spread it over the world, not just Europe.
“… to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person.”
Aim:
I want my models to be from as many countries as possible since the human rights applies to everyone al over the world.
Visual:
Its hard to find a good way to unify the photos, but nice photos from Unicef or FN are often saturated with strong blue colour, so probably I’m going for slightly (not to much) saturated photos and maybe al on location to.
Marketing Photos
An Empty Chair
The first famous use of an empty chair as a symbol is Luke Fildes painting entitled “The Empty Chair” showing Charles Dickens empty chair after his death in 1870.
Background
Research
Conceptual photography is one of the hardest to capture since it is completely personal.
Therefore it requires a great deal of research.
I found that talking to people, asking for their opinion and their visions of the topics was the most successful approach. So I did, a lot of it.
I brainstormed and created a visual idea for each and every human right. Then I presented it and asked various people what they thought. I would develop my idea depending on their feedback and ideas, then I presented it to a different audience. Over and over again.
"The only thing necessary for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing."
- Edmund Burke
From Drawings to Photography
The Visual Process
Human rights
Background Story
All slaves were sent free in 540 BC by Babylon Cyrus The Great. He also declared that everybody had freedom of religion. It was all written down and is known today as the Cyrus cylinder.
These words spread to Rome, India, Greece and onwards. It was noticed how people followed certain natural laws - naturally.
It spread to England, and the British Bill of Rights became a thing. Next was America's declaration of independence. After that, the French Revolution took it one step further; they change the Toms Natural laws to natural rights.
In 1800 Napoleon called himself the empire of the world, but thankfully a few European countries got together and defeated him.
The international rights were still only in Europe, so how about the rest of the world?
Then a boy from India said enough is enough. 1915 Mahatma Gandhi said all people have rights.
Yet two upcoming world wars and 70 million peoples lives were lost. And never have the world been so desperate for change…
1945 United Nation was established with the basic purpose “ … to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person” and the human rights were borne...
Human Rights
Know Your Rights
1
We Are All Born Free and Equal
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Caption: We are all born free and individual, unique in person. Together we are unified, strong and equal.
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson
Model: Theodore John Urlich
Assistant: Adrienne Bates
2
Don’t Discriminate
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
Caption: A big thank you to Background Talent and their fantastic talents that were willing to be a part of this image.
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson
Extras: Background Talent
3
The Right to Life
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
Caption: In multiple cultures, a single flame (a light) is a symbol of life. In Scandinavia amongst other cultures, they talk about a “living flame” like one from a candle. When it's time for a person to move on from this life his or her light (life) is taken from her by death.
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson
Model: Jess Davies
MUP/Special effects: Jess Davies
4
No Slavery
No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.
Caption: The numbers tattooed on slaves’ forearms during the Holocaust is a familiar symbol of slavery worldwide. Around half the Jewish population were decimated - a total of more than 90 million people. Never before had this Human Right been so desperately needed. Even today it is estimated some 21 million people are in slavery - twice as many as in the 1800s, and mostly from countries where life is considered to be cheap.
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson
MUP: Kristy Wallace
5
No Torture
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Caption: Forcing a persons head underwater is a torture technique that has been used worldwide for a very long time.
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson
Model: Malin Bergman and Jonas Ivarsson
6
You Have Rights No Matter Where You Go
Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
Caption: Mt Eden offered me a great view over Auckland. Thanks to Polar Coordinates in Photoshop this image implies the feeling of a universe, to represent Universal Rights.
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson
7
We’re All Equal Before the Law
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
Caption: Dramatic light on the two people battling in court makes it not so obvious who they are, their gender or the colour of their skin. On closer examination, you will discover a wealthy and confident businessman opposing a small black, insecure female. Both are equal in the eyes of the law.
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson
Models: Johnny Givins, Imi Odella, Enny Benzonelli
8
Your Human Rights Are Protected by Law
Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.
Caption: It is our right to be protected by the law, but in many places in our world corruption is rife. The law does not necessarily only serve the purpose of protecting the innocent; it also acts to protect the rights of the criminal.
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson
Model: Jesse Burt
Extra: Nils J. Broman
9
No Unfair Detainment
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
Caption: The highest contrast point in this image is the shadows caused by the bars of the incarcerated person. The secondary is his back. An obvious location for this would be a dirty basement, but this would have created a presumption of the scenario I'm trying to portray. The clean walls suggest to the viewer that this could be anywhere, even in the city of theirs own.
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson
Model: Sammy Martin
MUP/Special effects: Kristy Wallace
10
The Right to Trial
Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.
Caption: This person is captured and left alone against the dominant mass about to judge him. Regardless of whatever he is guilty or not, there is no intent to offer a fair neutral trial before he is being judged.
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson
Model: Jesse Adams
Extras: Julie Khoey, Ben Cullen, Wesley Twiss, Neda Shademan, Chante Neblett, Robyn Cullen
11
We’re Always Innocent Till Proven Guilty
1. Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defense.
2. No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.
Caption: A young innocent looking girl with a swelling light that enhances her righteous soul. The mirror at her back reflects the secret she hides. She is clearly guilty of something but is innocent until her guilt is proven.
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson
Model: Lorraine Reinsberger
MUP: Kristy Wallace
12
The Right to Privacy
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
Caption: With this image, I hope to put a smile on your face. We each have our own privacy and secrets; it's our right as humans to have them. This image may potentially raise questions about the suitability of their activity in an office after hours.
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson
Models: Simon Ellery, Jess Maitland
Extra: Oscar Lindberg
13
Freedom to Move
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State.
2. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.
Caption: Freedom to move is probably one of the rights that at its first glance doesn’t seem as essential when it is in fact rather the opposite. To understand life situations and people; we need knowledge - to gain knowledge we need experience. Travel broadens the mind and provides real experiences that are far different from those gained at home. Nothing adds greater perspective than the world itself. However it is in times like these, during a pandemic, one realises how much we are taking this human right for granted.
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson
Model: Henric Matthiesen
14
The Right to Seek a Safe Place to Live
1. Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
2. This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
Caption: The country of birth may not be a safe haven in difficult times such as war. Emigration is a solution for some, however many don’t have the luxury of this option. Death or persecution becomes a powerful incentive to hand over a lifetime of savings to buy a tiny space in a container in the hope they can arrive on the shores of a more sympathetic nation. They are left with only their desperate hope they will be alive when they land, and the hope they can stay.
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson
Model: Jess Davies
MUP/Special effects: Jess Davies
15
Right to a Nationality
1. Everyone has the right to a nationality.
2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.
Caption: By choosing people in different age groups and with different ethnicities I’m applying diversity to my image. By arranging them into a circle I enhance the feeling of a global network and a worldwide connection is conveyed.
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson
Extras: Robyn Cullen, Ben Cullen, Julie Kohey, Sisi Shao, Jesse Adams, Wesley Twiss.
16
Marriage and Family
1. Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
2. Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
3. The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.
Caption: A youthful bride, holding the hand of her husband; hardly reaching the height of his waist. This is a reality in many countries and an accepted part of far too many cultures. I’m letting this image speak for itself.
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson
Model: Gabriella Bartosh-Osgood
Extra: Peter Adams
17
The Right to Your Own Things
1. Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.
Caption: Own whatever floats your boat, it's your right to do so!
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson
Model: Rudy De La Garza
18
Freedom of Thought
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
Caption: The fishbowl on this man's shoulders is representing a bubble that keeps his thoughts inside, he is not able to share them.
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson
Model: Desmond Joe
19
Freedom of Expression
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Caption: Imagine yourself standing up in front of people and speak. Imagine you speaking your mind frilly, imagine you doing so with joy and luv, imagine yourself having the right to do so. Thousands of people worldwide are in prison today for speaking their mind.
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson
20
The Right to Public Assembly
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
2. No one may be compelled to belong to an association.
Caption: Huge thank you to True North and their participants who let me come around and photograph their meditation session. They are doing this assembly on a weekly basis in one of the member's houses.
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson Model: True North
21
The Right to Democracy
1. Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
2. Everyone has the right to equal access to public service in his country.
3. The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.
Caption: To have the right to vote is something that is easy to take for granted. It is a privilege that everyone should take care of and actually use when the opportunity is given.
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson
Model/extras: Ben Cullen, Chloe Keat-Wilson, Kent Barber, Parisa Shademan, Robyn Cullen
22
Social Security
Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international cooperation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.
Caption: It is fairly simple and straightforward, cause sometimes we all need a bit of help.
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson Models: Nerida Cath, Nils J. Broman, Robyn Cullen, Ben Cullen, Imiodella Emuze, Rose King
23
Workers’ Rights
1. Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
2. Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
3. Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
4. Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
Caption: One might not necessarily agree with Mr John Minto's political opinion, but no one cannot deny his long history as an active advocate. It seems he is always visible - marching, debating and fighting for the workers and their rights.
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson
24
The Right to Play
Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.
Caption: No matter who you are, where you are from, what you do for a living or how you are living; have fun and enjoy life, it's another important right.
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson
Model: Alessandro Casella
25
Food and Shelter for All
1. Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
2. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.
Caption: It is a human right to have food and shelter, yet some 25,000 people are dying of starvation every day, the equivalent of one death every 4 seconds! In France, big supermarkets are forced to give away unsold food to charities instead of tipping it into a bin and pouring bleach over it. According to official estimates, a French person throws out 20-40kg of food a year on an average and around 7kg of this is still in its original wrapping. It might not be the ideal long-term solution for our overproducing food market, but it's certainly better than the bin. This is however a step in the right direction to make this right a reality. Great job France.
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson
26
The Right to Education
1. Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
2. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
3. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.
Caption: For most people in our society this is an obvious and fundamental truth. Education delivers the essential survival skills to read and do basic maths. However, it is also a truth that over 750 million adults are unable to read or write.
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson
Model: Melissa Osgood, Gabriella Bartosh-Osgood, Heba.
27
Copyright
1. Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
2. Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.
Caption: In our modern digital society copyright is always a questionable topic. The rights of the owner are often ignored and many are unaware that they are committing a crime. While illegal downloading of Copyrighted material is a crime, few understand they are also breaking a Human Right by doing so.
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson
Model: Alejandro Davila
28
A Fair and Free World
Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.
Caption: What is fair according to you? What is freedom? The answers I received when doing my research for this project were fascinating and so individual. What is fair was things like equality and justice. But the responses about freedom were much more diverse, and I received more complex answers. I quickly concluded what we all see as freedom is completely dependent on our lifestyle and what means a lot to us, where and how we grew up, our ethnicity and our ancestors. There were quite a few common words; such as open spaces, views, sun, warmth, physical activity of a different kind, they all included moving somewhere – anywhere - whenever.
This fish is not free, neither is it fair that his water soon will be gone.
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson
Extra: Jesse Adams
A great big thanks to Hollywood Fish Farm for supporting my project by letting me photograph a fish in one of their aquariums. Note that this is a photomontage, no fish were harmed in the making of this image.
29
Responsibility
1. Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
2. In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
3. These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
Caption: The Human Rights Article 29 is all about letting other people know about their Human Rights. If you know your rights it's your responsibility to tell the people who do not know. How could I possible illustrate this in an image? A soapbox is an improvised platform, as one on a street, from which a speaker delivers an informal speech, an appeal, or political harangue.
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson
Model: Ken Mason
30
No One Can Take Away Your Human Rights
Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.
Caption: Is there any more simple and fair way to find out who is the stronger that doesn’t reflect the size, age, ethnicity or number of people involved than the good old tug of war?
Credits and Special Thanks:
Photo: Ida Larsson
Model: Nils J. Broman, Alva Ohlsson, Desmond Joe, Imiodella Emuze, Lucy Woo
And they all lived happily ever after!
Except for one little problem…
If everybody has the right to food and shelter, why is 25 000 people dying of starvation every day, that is one every 4sec…
If we all have the freedom of speech, how come thousands of people are in prison for speaking their minds?
If everybody has the right to education, why are over 750 million adults unable to read this?
If slavery truly has been embellished, how come over 40 million people are still in slavery today? That is more than ten times as many as in the 1800s…
The Declaration of human rights do not have the force of law, it is optional, but it is our job to make it so much more than words on a page… so the question is; who will make those words a reality??
Martin Luther King had a dream, and he fought! he fought for something as basic as equality. Equality that the United Nations had guaranteed for 2 decades! but still, he fought…
Nelson Mandella fought for Social justice even if his country had agreed to abolish sex discrimination for almost 40 years, but still he fought!
Those that fight today are people just like you and me, individuals that refuse to be silent, who realized that if something is going to change - we need to make it change. Human Rights are not just words on a page, not speeches, commercials or PR companies. They are the choice we make every day as human beings. We all share a responsibility to respect and help each other and protect those in need.
Know your rights, it can help you someday…
Special
Thank You!
I wanted to give special thanks to Marco Hidalgo, Roy Ackroyd and Oscar Lindberg for our never-ending brainstorming sessions. For giving me a hand whenever I needed it throughout my project and for your constant support! It wouldn’t have turned out the same without you guys!
Kristy Wallace for your amazing Make-Up and special effects.
Exhibition
Opening Night!
At Humm Salon.
Know Your Rights was a success and have been exhibited in multiple locations.
Comments are closed.
