We know that humanitarian images often foreground suffering. How can we provide more complex visualisations that also show complexity and ensure collaboration and protection?
THE EXHIBITION
Display duration: Mon 24 March - Fri 28 March 2025
Held on the land of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people, the exhibition ‘Towards Alternative Humanitarian Visuals?’ curates photographic works from three previous ICRC exhibitions that
- share stories of resilience amid warfare in the highlands of PNG,
- display portraits from six landmine affected countries, and
- visualise the impact of armed violence in Afghanistan, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Georgia, Haiti, Lebanon, Liberia and the Philippines.
The collection asks us to consider what balance is required between showing devastating truths, beauty, individual dignity, identity, consent, and humanitarian response activities. When eliciting human connection for action, we are invited to pay attention to our own emotions and related responses, such as shock, solidarity, indifference, responsibility, and care. We know that images have ‘long privileged a vision of suffering rather than a language of equality.’ How do we ensure that humanitarian images prioritise complexity, collaboration, and protection?
WARNING: The exhibition contains themes and images that may be distressing or triggering to some individuals. If you feel uncomfortable, consider stepping away and seeking support from a trusted person or professional. Your wellbeing is important, and it's good to be mindful of others' sensitivities.
THE PROJECT
The exhibition is part of an Australian Research Council (ARC) funded project on ‘Visualising Humanitarian Crises’ that involves eight researchers and the World Press Photo Foundation, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Australian Red Cross, and Médecins Sans Frontières. The exhibition and its opening are part of broader workshop activities at the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, ANU, which sits at the intersection of these projects, led by Professor Bina D’Costa, including her ARC Future Fellowship (FT210100759) and the Centre of Excellence on the Elimination of Violence against Women (CE230100004).
The exhibition is part of a series of activities that sit at the intersection of Humanitarian emergencies, protection, and displacement projects led by Professor Bina D’Costa and including ARC Future Fellowship (FT210100759) and CEVAW (CE230100004).
The exhibition is proudly supported by the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs at ANU, the ANU Myanmar Research Centre (MRC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the University of Queensland (UQ).