Beyond what the eyes can see

Refugees are often forced to stay invisible to protect their safety. Their stories are hidden, or told by somebody else. The portraits in this exhibition explore and address this issue. They are the result of a collaboration between myself and sixteen anonymous refugee women artists, who have developed their embroidery and henna painting skills through Asylum Access Thailand's Chamaliin collective. Each woman has altered her own portrait, influencing how her image is portrayed to the world, and deciding which parts are hidden and which are shown.

The original photos were printed on cotton and paper, then embroidered or painted on. The images shown above are scans of the final products.

© Ana Norman Bermudez - Image from the Beyond what the eyes can see photography project
© Ana Norman Bermudez - Image from the Beyond what the eyes can see photography project
i

Age 45. I am a Christian. In Vietnam, we were not safe. The government killed my son, and the rest of my children could not go to school. We escaped to Thailand twice, the first time in 2017 and the second time in 2020. I came to Thailand to find a place to be free and worship God, and that is all I want. But because I don’t speak Thai or English, I cannot find any work.

© Ana Norman Bermudez - Image from the Beyond what the eyes can see photography project
i

Age 34. I came to Thailand in 2013 because my husband had problems in Vietnam. I cannot tell you what they were. Now we live here with our five children. Living here brings new opportunities for my children because they can go to school. At the same time, it is very difficult because as a refugee I cannot find a job.

© Ana Norman Bermudez - Image from the Beyond what the eyes can see photography project
i

Age 25. I am from Pakistan. When I was 15, my mother’s name was announced in our town. She was a teacher and they accused her of converting children to Christianity. The same day, we went into hiding for three months, after which we fled to Thailand. As refugees, we live under constant fear of being arrested. Surviving is hard because we cannot find jobs, and as an only child, it is my responsibility to work. Art is like therapy for me, so Chamaliin allows me to earn money while I do something that I enjoy. Sometimes I see old friends advancing in their careers and getting married while I am stuck, and I feel sad. But I also know that the challenges I have been through have made me grow.

© Ana Norman Bermudez - Image from the Beyond what the eyes can see photography project
i

Age 37. I have been here for 5 years. We had some problems with the government in Vietnam and had to leave for our safety. Because we are refugees, it is very difficult to find employment. Sometimes we don’t have enough money to buy food for our children.

© Ana Norman Bermudez - Image from the Beyond what the eyes can see photography project
i

Age 35. My husband is a missionary. One day, the police arrested him for preaching the Bible. We were afraid to continue living in Vietnam and in 2016 decided to flee to Thailand with our four children. Living in Thailand as refugees has been difficult for us. There are not many work opportunities for refugees. Sometimes we find a job, and after we complete it, we are not paid.

© Ana Norman Bermudez - Image from the Beyond what the eyes can see photography project
i

Age 23. My father is a bishop. In 2014, after word got out that he had baptized some members of the Muslim community in my home country of Pakistan, my family became the target of threats. To avoid persecution, we tried to escape to different regions, eventually being forced to leave the country. For eight years, my family and I have lived as refugees in Thailand, rarely leaving our home. I find solace in my creative work. I love doing henna and nail art.

© Ana Norman Bermudez - Image from the Beyond what the eyes can see photography project
i

Age 70. My family and I are Christian. One day the government came to our house and took away all of our possessions. We did not have a house to live in. That is the reason why we moved to Thailand in 2013. I am waiting for my case to have a chance to go to another country because I want to have a house and be able to work.

© Ana Norman Bermudez - Image from the Beyond what the eyes can see photography project
i

Age 29. I came to Thailand in 2016 with six family members after we were arrested by the Vietnamese police for being Christian. I live here as a refugee. It is very tough because I struggle to find work without an ID card. Chamaliin helps me when I cannot find other work.

© Ana Norman Bermudez - Image from the Beyond what the eyes can see photography project
i

Age 18. I am from Sri Lanka. When I was 10, my family escaped to Thailand because Sri Lanka was no longer safe for us. Unfortunately, my parents and older brother were forced to leave three years ago after being arrested by the police. I now live with my older sister. As I was very young when I came here, I was able to complete grade 6 in Thailand and make friends. Thailand is an important part of who I am. But finding employment is still hard.

© Ana Norman Bermudez - Image from the Beyond what the eyes can see photography project
i

Age 31. Eight years ago, after the police attacked some members of my family, we fled to Thailand. It has been very difficult for me because I struggle to find enough work to support my six children. Even when I find a job, the pay is very low because I do not have Thai nationality.

© Ana Norman Bermudez - Image from the Beyond what the eyes can see photography project
i

Age 23. I came to Thailand following my husband who was already here. We have a small child. Life as a refugee is sometimes easier than life back home, but sometimes it is really hard. Without documents, it is very difficult to get a job and support my family.

© Ana Norman Bermudez - Image from the Beyond what the eyes can see photography project
i

Age 25. My family left Sri Lanka in 2014 to escape the war. After six years of living as refugees in Thailand, my little sister and I came home to find that our parents and brother had been arrested. I begged the police to release my mother, who was sick and needed surgery, but I did not have enough money to pay for bail. Eventually, they had to return to Sri Lanka. My sister and I remain in Thailand. Chamaliin provides an opportunity for us to work safely from home and still have time to study. I am currently working on my high school diploma and hope to become a lawyer one day.

Latest Projects

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Stay in the loop


We will send you weekly news on contemporary photography. You can change your mind at any time. We will treat your data with respect. For more information please visit our privacy policy. By ticking here, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with them. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.