Reading about human rights and seeing the images are two completely different experiences. The Human Rights, Human Wrongs exhibit covers 1945 to the early 90s “featuring more than 200 original press prints.”
I didn’t know what to expect but the warning signs by the stairs told me it wasn’t for the faint of heart.
The atmosphere changes very quickly after leaving the ground floor cafe towards the exhibit. The journey to the exhibit is set by a timeline in the stairwell to set the scene for the images to come.
Standing in just the entrance way I was completely silenced. I’ve read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) multiple times, I’ve picked it apart and read between the lines to better apply international law, but seeing the letters in black and white made me speechless.
A lot of my research focuses on Article 4, “freedom from slavery,” and a little with Article 6, “everyone has a right to recognition as a person before the law,” the focus of this collection.
Walking through the exhibit was heart breaking, breath taking and beautifully crafted. The images depicted the civil rights movement in the US, revolutions across the world, civil wars, government coups, and riots. It is nothing if not a diverse collection, however it broke my heart to see how many included the US either directly or indirectly. Today, the US prides itself on their commitment to human rights, yet this collection shows all their human wrongs.
It’s a humbling experience standing in front of a wall filled with the human rights violations of inequality before the law, knowing that for every face presented there are hundreds of stories unheard.
Leaving I only regretted not having enough time to watch their collection of videos, although they can all be found on Youtube (or so I’m told).
Where: The Photographers’ Galley
16-18 Ramillies Street, London W1F 7LW
Closest Tube Stop: Oxford Circus
When: 6 February until 6 April 2015
Open 10:00-18:00 (open until 20:00 on Thursdays and opens late on Sunday at 11:30)
Cost: Free!
Talks & Events: 19 March 2015: Curator’s Talk, Mark Sealy
I wish I could share every photo and it’s power but some of the photos are very sensitive, so if you have the stomach for it, go see for yourself, I highly recommend it!
Read this post and other stories on Staci’s personal blog
Latest posts by stacianne (see all)
- Enjoy a City Escape to Bath - October 10, 2016
- The Must See Sights of London - September 30, 2016
- From Matriculation to Graduation - July 15, 2016