Have you ever come across a photographer who has the ability to make images so powerful, so unsettling…yet at the same time so provocative and beautiful? I haven’t…until I came across the work of photographer and journalist Gervasio Sánchez…just by happenstance…during my time in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Let me explain…
During the two weeks in Siem Reap, the Sojourn Boutique Villas was home. A hotel chosen not only because of wonderful reviews, but also because a percentage of their profits would go towards educating and developing several local villages within the area. It didn’t take long into our stay to realize an added benefit…the owners employ only local Khmer staff, many from the Treak village nestled around the hotel. It was their beautiful smiles and their eagerness to please that provided pure joy on a daily basis, not to mention the fun (and sometimes challenge) of communicating. From the very beginning there was one individual who stood out from all the rest. It was the calmness in SK’s voice…his innate ability to relate, as well as to react…not only in a professional way, but in a caring and attentive way. Friendly, well spoken yet soft spoken, and a smile so beautiful it was if you could see his soul…all the ingredients of someone very special. It took almost the entire two weeks of our stay before learning just how special…
It was in casual conversation with SK a few days before our departure…after seeing a slight limp from an ankle injury from playing volleyball the night before…that took us into a discussion of him losing his leg because of a landmine. That discussion turned into seeing firsthand Sánchez’s photography of the devastating humanitarian impact of landmines. Three books covering ten years of seven wounded people, one for each of the countries he had visited on four continents…three books of the most gut wrenching, yet heartwarming documentation of what landmines have done to individuals and families. An amazing effort to raise awareness…and yes, SK’s story was one of the seven.
As told by Sánchez…
As he had done every day at the same time, SK, a fourteen year old Cambodian boy, rode his bicycle to school on January 10th, 1996, accompanied by his best friend, Chai Chun. They had heard about landmines in a talk given after school. They knew they were very dangerous, and that they exploded with the lightest touch, but they decided to pick up a mine the size of the palm of the hand and take it to the nearest army base. A brusque movement, produced by a road that had not seen asphalt for more than thirty years, caused the mine to fall to the ground, explode, and kill Chai. The blast tore off half of SK’s foot, along with its arteries and veins.
For thirteen days SK endured the heartbreakingly unbearable nights; the pain was dreadful… He did not want to be part of a legion of cripples. But finally gangrene set in and obliged the doctors to amputate his leg. His father, who was present, wept while he helped take his son to the operating room. The operation lasted only forty-five minutes. SK comes from a very poor peasant family that survives on the rice crop, four chickens and the odd pig: his parents had to sell a large part of that year’s rice crop to pay for his stay in the hospital. Of note, one of his older brothers had been killed some years earlier by another mine…
Sánchez explains that the key to making this project work over the course of ten years was all about patience. There were numerous returns to the original places…he needed to become part of their families. He couldn’t allow his presence to influence their routine or alter their everyday way of life. “I could not allow the camera to become merely a thief of others people’s suffering.” In an acceptance speech for a prestigious photography award Sanchez remarked…”Yes, they are my adopted children whom I’ve seen on the border between life and death, whom I’ve seen cry and scream in pain, whom I’ve watched grow up, go to college, fall in love, have children. SK from Cambodia has gone from being a poor peasant child with two legs and very little chance of finishing secondary school to becoming an anti-landmine campaigner with great international coverage, photographed with ex-Beatle Paul McCartney and giving talks to Australian and German students.” See what I mean by special?
In all honesty, my knowledge about the impact of landmines was next to nothing. Yes, Paul McCartney, Princess Diana, and Angelina Jolie were crusaders for banning landmines..that was about it. But it was SK that stimulated my interest to learn more. Although the US, Russia, China and India never signed onto the 1999 Ottawa Convention banning landmines, the US agreed to abide by most key provisions. Regardless of the unsigned treaty, the US quit producing landmines and stopped exporting them to other countries in 1997. It was also good to learn that the US also contributed more money and resources than any other country in the effort to find and neutralize landmines. There’s hope we (the US) will eventually sign-on officially.
Specific to Cambodia…thirty years of war has left somewhere between 4 to 6 million landmines making this country one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. Today Cambodia is home to around 40,000 amputees due to landmines and unexploded bombs. It has taken decades and a herculean multinational effort to de-mine vast areas of the country, but sadly…the threat from landmines will never be completely erased.
I want everybody to see themselves reflected in this “cruel mirror of the truth.”
Gervasio Sánchez – Vidas Minadas/Mined Lives
Meeting SK, being “introduced” to the landmine photography work of Gervasio Sánchez, and learning more about the ongoing impact of landmines…continues to answer that question…why Cambodia?
xo, gg
~~~
p.s. The image at the top of the young Cambodian boy was made while visiting Beng Mealea…several children were playing within the temple area…an uncanny resemblance to SK as a child…including the bracelet…that he continues to wear today. Thrilled to have located all three books in the UK to add to my library of photography books…
Oh my, I don’t even have the words to express the emotions I feel after reading this post. So, so, sad to know how we, as humans, can inflect so much pain and suffering on each other… I don’t even have the mindset to understand how anyone can think up this kind of horror on others. Thank God there was a positive outcome out of all this senseless violence to our fellow human beings, especially the innocent victims of war…. if only to bring a renewed awareness to the fact that these landmines still exist. Perhaps this post will help others decide to make a difference, and take action to do so… Thank you so much for sharing this and putting a bright light on this once again… XOXO
Thanks my sweet…so appreciate you! xoxo
Ditto what Virginia wrote. Thank you for this beautiful yet terrifying post about unspeakable suffering and pain.
My next question is, how did you know that where you walked was safe? Are the landmines in fields mostly?
Thanks Ruth…I so agree…
For a visitor that’s why having a guide is extremely important. As an example in the Kulen Mountain area where we hiked. We stayed on foot paths that the villagers used but knowing that outside of that could be issues. This is one time is pays to abide by the rules for sure. Another example was within one of the temple area of Boeng Mealea where work had started in 2003 and it continues today. I took a photo of the sign…and 438 mines had been cleared during that time, but work still remains. I’ve read that today’s threat is largely concentrated in the rural north-west part of Cambodia…where Siem Reap is located and I’m sure that is probably farm fields…
Thanks always for your visits!
I was especially moved by the photographer’s comment, “I could not allow the camera to become merely a thief of others people’s suffering.” That made me think carefully about what I do when I have my camera in hand, of what my goal is when I take photos of others.
The story of landmines and the damage they cause is so troubling. Thank you for posting your experience and how you came into contact with this amazing photographer.
Thanks Deborah! I too was moved by that quote…so much in those few words! Every photographer should have this sentence as their/our mantra.
What an incredible experience. I, too didn’t know about all of these landmines that still exist. Gervasio is an incredible photographer and SK, wow! I went back to the wedding photos and saw him and his wife doing the hair cutting, just to see him again. What an incredible, painful experience he endured, physically and emotionally. Boys will be boys and so sad that his brother was killed and his best friend. But, I loved seeing him older, married, with his son and wife and to have a smile and a calmness about him. Just incredible.
I learn so much from your travels and so much about the world. Ruth’s question was great and your answer makes so much sense. There’s a time to go off on your own and a time for a guide. You must do a boatload of research before traveling.
Just an observation, Robin: I can understand and agree what a wonderful human being and talented war photographer Sanchez is and certainly well deserved accolades.
But, you my dear Robin, are very special and very talented, as well. You have that unspoken/smile/respect/beauty about you that people trust you and open up to you. I just think of when we reconnected and how amazingly you have transformed, not just as a photographer, artist and writer, but the way you blossomed and found your true self and passion has been such an amazing gift to be a part of observing your metamorphosis. You are pretty darn incredible and you never cease to blow my mind with your journeys, heart, talent and generousity to share it with us. I am in awe and honored to follow you and see what the future holds, as I know it will be great things. It’s not about fame nor fortune, it’s about you and your self and your lust for life and learning. You are truly an inspiration.
Love you and thank you so much for such a heartfelt post. XOXO
SK and his wife are indeed very special people and not only do they have a son that looks just like SK, but a beautiful daughter…nicknamed “princess” and she truly is adorable. They are such a gorgeous family…inside and out.
You dear Lisa…always my cheerleader. I really do so appreciate you… yet I have many many years ahead of me to even be in a junior league compared to Sanchez…but having said that I do often think where I’ll be in this passion even ten years from now. Time will tell, ha! Thank you so very much…always. xoxo
Reading the comments (and your replies) after this moving post has been a true “PAUSE” in the midst of yet another political Tuesday being watched from afar, Robin. I especially agree with what Lisa wrote in her comment…because YOU are becoming “that” photographer. Or, I should say, you ARE “that” photographer. Carry on!
And you Ginnie…another cheerleader. Thank you so much…ALWAYS for your continued support! And yes, another political Tuesday and as I type this the results from New York are coming in…
I don’t know about you but I’m a happy camper right now (at 7a the next day, Wed., with 98.5% of votes counted).
So near and dear to my heart, this subject.
On so many levels.
Thank you for sharing this incredibly riveting portrait of the paradox of suffering.
It feeds my heart so deeply.
My son spent his time in Afghanistan removing mines and saw first hand the devastating
effects of those traps. Prayers for a world that loves peace more than partitions.
Thanks and love,
Jennifer
Thanks for sharing about your son’s time in Afghanistan. I can’t even imagine how much his eyes have seen and how much his heart has endured. Yes, indeed…prayers for the world.
Heartbreaking and heartwarming. So many children got and still get killed by landmines. They are still to be found in Vietnam , Colombia and the highest number of landmine victims are in Afghanistan.
I visited Cambodia for the first time 13 years ago and while visiting a remote village I needed a “bathroom” and tried to step outside the village border…after much physical interference of the village people I understood that a couple of days earlier they had discovered landmines in exactly the place I was heading to.
For me it was just a short shock but the people in that and many more villages had to live with that danger on a daily basis.
Thank you so much for sharing your travels and experiences.Will look for the books, amazing person!
Thanks for your thoughts Karen!
Heartbreaking an infuriating – four to six million landmines still in existence in Cambodia! 40,000 amputees! So tragic. Thank you for shining light on this important subject and for sharing such beautiful, poignant images!
Isn’t it!! Thank you for reading! So appreciate you!
Art reaching hearts and hopefully making change. Powerful.
Very much so Elena! So powerful! Thanks for your visit!