Urban Asylum-Seekers

This series is a photographic record of people who strive to live a life of freedom, but who are currently in a statelessness chapter of time in their lives.  

Cities and towns across the world have become home to millions of people trying to escape violence and persecution. People are targeted for their religious beliefs, social status, race, gender, nationality or on-going conflict. In the city of Bangkok, the ongoing surge of asylum-seekers has increased significantly in the last few years. Most people have to wait three years or more for their application interview and most likely it will be pushed ahead a number of times and then they may have to wait up to 12 months after that to be resettled in a different country. 

After tourist visas expire, most people are not prepared for the long grim process of dealing with the challenging conditions, little financial or medical support, uncertainty, and day to day fear of being discovered. Furthermore, urban asylum-seekers may have more freedom than those in camps, but they are more exposed and vulnerable to arrest and imprisonment. Many people are forced to live together in a small one room apartment, sharing a mattress and using a propane burner to cook whatever food they have. 

The idea of stepping out from the shadows and entering into the light of day without fear becomes almost an unrealistic hope for many people who are seeking asylum in Bangkok. 

2015