Photo © Manel Quiros
Daily Life - NOMINEE: Manel Quiros
Living in Solitude
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Her name was Reena.
It did not matter that she was only twelve, nor did it matter that all she wanted was to survive the streets of Chittagong in Bangladesh, after being thrown out by her stepfather. All that mattered was that she had a body men would pay for. The trap was easy enough; she was desperate for a job and met a lady who promised her a job selling garments in Dhaka. She never made it to Dhaka. She was taken to Banishanta Island instead, sold to a Madame, and there they took her name and like so many before her, took her innocence and made her a faceless, nameless statistic deprived of money, honour and freedom.
Banishanta - located on a small riverbank village in Mongla, southern Bangladesh, is one of twenty legal brothels in the country. Populated by women who ‘do not exist,’ many in their young teenage years, who never imagined themselves destined to a life as sex slaves. Sold, kidnapped or coerced, most are unregistered at birth and possess no passport or document with which to identify them. A fact that makes it nearly impossible for them to leave the island in search of a better life when they are no longer of value to their Madame. Their only solace, in the end is to retreat into their own imaginary world, where they wish to find at least some form of protection. Drugs and alcohol are part of the daily routine as a means to escape the pain of their existence.
The girls are isolated in Banishanta, so they are forced to learn to live in each other’s company – they form friendships and ‘families.’ But this is all a make – believe front for their sanity. In truth every girl lives alone.
Manel Quiros
About author:
Manel Quiros (1984)
Spanish photographer from Barcelona based in the United Kingdom since 2010. Studied professional photography at the University of Valencia and Visual Communication and Photojournalism in Edinburgh and Glasgow. He has collaborated with; CC ONG, Naya Nagar ONGD, Red Cross Spain, Red Cross Burkinabe, UNHCR (The United Nations Refugee Agency) and WFP (World Food Programme). His dedication to documentary photography has been developed in several European countries, and also in countries such as; Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Egypt, India, Bangladesh, Thailand and Cambodia. He works professionally on long-term photographic editorial projects. He is also a TEDx speaker for the University of Edinburgh.
manelphotography@gmail.com
Awards and Recognitions
2020
- The Independent Photographer. Winner of the Visual Storytelling. "Living in Solitude"
2018
- ND '18 (Neutral Density Photography Awards). Honorable Mention in the category of Special: Photojournalism/Story. "Living in Solitude" - PhotogrVphy Grant 2018. Nominee in the category of Daily Life. "Living in Solitude" - Direct Look PhotoContest '18. Second Place in the category “The Problem”. "Living in Solitude" - SPA '18 (Scottish Portrait Awards). Finalist. "Living in Solitude" - MIFA '18 (Moscow International Foto Awards). Third Place in the category of Editorial: Photo Essay. "Living in Solitude" - Focus on the Story International Photo Festival '18. Finalist/Runner up for best series. "Living in Solitude” - TIFA '18 (Tokyo International Foto Awards). Third Place in the category of Book: People. "Living in Solitude” - TIFA '18 (Tokyo International Foto Awards). First Place in the category of People: Life Style. "Living in Solitude" - iPOTY '17 (International Photographer Of The Year). Second Place in the category of Photojournalism/Story. "Living in Solitude" - TEDx Speaker at University of Edinburgh. "The Question Within The Photograph"
2017
- ND '17 (Neutral Density Photography Awards). First Place and Gold Star Award in the category of Editorial: Other. "Living in Solitude" - PhotogrVphy Grant 2017. Nominee in the category of Photojournalism. "Living in Solitude" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - International). First Place. Editorial Photographer of the Year. "Living in Solitude" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - International). First Place in the category of Editorial: Photo Essay and Featured Story. "Living in Solitude" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - International). Third Place in the category of Editorial: Political. "We Are Here" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - International). First Place in the category of Book: Monograph. "Gold Mines: Picked Education" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - Spain). First Place. Editorial Photographer of the Year. "Living in Solitude" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - Spain). First Place in the category of Editorial: Photo Essay and Featured Story. "Living in Solitude" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - Spain). Third Place in the category of Editorial: Photo Essay and Featured Story. "We Are Here" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - Spain). Third Place in the category of Editorial: Photo Essay and Featured Story. "Gold Mines: Picked Education" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - Spain). Second Place in the category of Editorial: Others. "Living in Solitude" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - Spain). Second Place in the category of Editorial: Others. "Gold Mines: Picked Education" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - Spain). Third Place in the category of Editorial: Others. "We Are Here" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - Spain). Second Place in the category of People: Culture. "Gold Mines: Picked Education" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - Spain). Third Place in the category of People: Culture. "Living in Solitude" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - Spain). Second Place in the category of Events: Social Issues. "We Are Here" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - Spain). Second Place in the category of Book: Documentary. "Gold Mines: Picked Education" - Monovision Photography Awards '17. Honorable Mention in the category of Photojournalism/Series. "Living in Solitude" - MIFA '17 (Moscow International Foto Awards). Third Place: People Category Winner. "Living in Solitude" - MIFA '17 (Moscow International Foto Awards). Second Place in the category of Book: Documentary. "Living in Solitude" - MIFA '17 (Moscow International Foto Awards). Second Place in the category of Editorial: Photo Essay. "Living in Solitude" - MIFA '17 (Moscow International Foto Awards). Third Place in the category of People: Children. "Living in Solitude" - MIFA '17 (Moscow International Foto Awards). First Place in the category of People: Life Style. "Living in Solitude" - Fine Art Photography Awards. Nominee in the category of Photojournalism. "Living in Solitude"
- Fine Art Photography Awards. Nominee in the category of Open Theme. "Living in Solitude"
- World Press Photo '17. Nominated to the Joop Swart Masterclass. - Finalist in the International Portrait Photography Award "Shoot the Face". "Living in Solitude"
- iPOTY '16 (International Photographer Of The Year). Honorable mention in the category of Photojournalism/Story. "Living in Solitude" - Monochrome Awards '16. Honorable mention in the category of Portrait. "Living in Solitude"
- Monochrome Awards '16. Honorable mention in the category of Portrait. "EXILE: The Refugees of Mali" - Monochrome Awards '16. Honorable mention in the category of People. "Living in Solitude"
- Monochrome Awards '16. Honorable mention in the category of Photojournalism. "Living in Solitude"
It did not matter that she was only twelve, nor did it matter that all she wanted was to survive the streets of Chittagong in Bangladesh, after being thrown out by her stepfather. All that mattered was that she had a body men would pay for. The trap was easy enough; she was desperate for a job and met a lady who promised her a job selling garments in Dhaka. She never made it to Dhaka. She was taken to Banishanta Island instead, sold to a Madame, and there they took her name and like so many before her, took her innocence and made her a faceless, nameless statistic deprived of money, honour and freedom.
Banishanta - located on a small riverbank village in Mongla, southern Bangladesh, is one of twenty legal brothels in the country. Populated by women who ‘do not exist,’ many in their young teenage years, who never imagined themselves destined to a life as sex slaves. Sold, kidnapped or coerced, most are unregistered at birth and possess no passport or document with which to identify them. A fact that makes it nearly impossible for them to leave the island in search of a better life when they are no longer of value to their Madame. Their only solace, in the end is to retreat into their own imaginary world, where they wish to find at least some form of protection. Drugs and alcohol are part of the daily routine as a means to escape the pain of their existence.
The girls are isolated in Banishanta, so they are forced to learn to live in each other’s company – they form friendships and ‘families.’ But this is all a make – believe front for their sanity. In truth every girl lives alone.
Manel Quiros
About author:
Manel Quiros (1984)
Spanish photographer from Barcelona based in the United Kingdom since 2010. Studied professional photography at the University of Valencia and Visual Communication and Photojournalism in Edinburgh and Glasgow. He has collaborated with; CC ONG, Naya Nagar ONGD, Red Cross Spain, Red Cross Burkinabe, UNHCR (The United Nations Refugee Agency) and WFP (World Food Programme). His dedication to documentary photography has been developed in several European countries, and also in countries such as; Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Egypt, India, Bangladesh, Thailand and Cambodia. He works professionally on long-term photographic editorial projects. He is also a TEDx speaker for the University of Edinburgh.
manelphotography@gmail.com
Awards and Recognitions
2020
- The Independent Photographer. Winner of the Visual Storytelling. "Living in Solitude"
2018
- ND '18 (Neutral Density Photography Awards). Honorable Mention in the category of Special: Photojournalism/Story. "Living in Solitude" - PhotogrVphy Grant 2018. Nominee in the category of Daily Life. "Living in Solitude" - Direct Look PhotoContest '18. Second Place in the category “The Problem”. "Living in Solitude" - SPA '18 (Scottish Portrait Awards). Finalist. "Living in Solitude" - MIFA '18 (Moscow International Foto Awards). Third Place in the category of Editorial: Photo Essay. "Living in Solitude" - Focus on the Story International Photo Festival '18. Finalist/Runner up for best series. "Living in Solitude” - TIFA '18 (Tokyo International Foto Awards). Third Place in the category of Book: People. "Living in Solitude” - TIFA '18 (Tokyo International Foto Awards). First Place in the category of People: Life Style. "Living in Solitude" - iPOTY '17 (International Photographer Of The Year). Second Place in the category of Photojournalism/Story. "Living in Solitude" - TEDx Speaker at University of Edinburgh. "The Question Within The Photograph"
2017
- ND '17 (Neutral Density Photography Awards). First Place and Gold Star Award in the category of Editorial: Other. "Living in Solitude" - PhotogrVphy Grant 2017. Nominee in the category of Photojournalism. "Living in Solitude" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - International). First Place. Editorial Photographer of the Year. "Living in Solitude" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - International). First Place in the category of Editorial: Photo Essay and Featured Story. "Living in Solitude" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - International). Third Place in the category of Editorial: Political. "We Are Here" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - International). First Place in the category of Book: Monograph. "Gold Mines: Picked Education" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - Spain). First Place. Editorial Photographer of the Year. "Living in Solitude" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - Spain). First Place in the category of Editorial: Photo Essay and Featured Story. "Living in Solitude" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - Spain). Third Place in the category of Editorial: Photo Essay and Featured Story. "We Are Here" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - Spain). Third Place in the category of Editorial: Photo Essay and Featured Story. "Gold Mines: Picked Education" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - Spain). Second Place in the category of Editorial: Others. "Living in Solitude" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - Spain). Second Place in the category of Editorial: Others. "Gold Mines: Picked Education" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - Spain). Third Place in the category of Editorial: Others. "We Are Here" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - Spain). Second Place in the category of People: Culture. "Gold Mines: Picked Education" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - Spain). Third Place in the category of People: Culture. "Living in Solitude" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - Spain). Second Place in the category of Events: Social Issues. "We Are Here" - IPA '17 (International Photography Awards - Spain). Second Place in the category of Book: Documentary. "Gold Mines: Picked Education" - Monovision Photography Awards '17. Honorable Mention in the category of Photojournalism/Series. "Living in Solitude" - MIFA '17 (Moscow International Foto Awards). Third Place: People Category Winner. "Living in Solitude" - MIFA '17 (Moscow International Foto Awards). Second Place in the category of Book: Documentary. "Living in Solitude" - MIFA '17 (Moscow International Foto Awards). Second Place in the category of Editorial: Photo Essay. "Living in Solitude" - MIFA '17 (Moscow International Foto Awards). Third Place in the category of People: Children. "Living in Solitude" - MIFA '17 (Moscow International Foto Awards). First Place in the category of People: Life Style. "Living in Solitude" - Fine Art Photography Awards. Nominee in the category of Photojournalism. "Living in Solitude"
- Fine Art Photography Awards. Nominee in the category of Open Theme. "Living in Solitude"
- World Press Photo '17. Nominated to the Joop Swart Masterclass. - Finalist in the International Portrait Photography Award "Shoot the Face". "Living in Solitude"
- iPOTY '16 (International Photographer Of The Year). Honorable mention in the category of Photojournalism/Story. "Living in Solitude" - Monochrome Awards '16. Honorable mention in the category of Portrait. "Living in Solitude"
- Monochrome Awards '16. Honorable mention in the category of Portrait. "EXILE: The Refugees of Mali" - Monochrome Awards '16. Honorable mention in the category of People. "Living in Solitude"
- Monochrome Awards '16. Honorable mention in the category of Photojournalism. "Living in Solitude"