Safe Heaven (Yellow)

This is the second chapter in Safe Heaven.

This is the second chapter in Safe Heaven.

I have photographed migrant women at their homes and during their daily lives. Homes have deep emotional meaning. Through their homes we get to know them, their motivations, their thoughts and aspirations along with the conditions they live in revealing how much they have achieved and struggled. They have painted and decorated their rooms according to their own personal story and choice. With both chapters I am exploring the notion of safety and confidence in relation to spaces.

Safe Heaven is a new interpretation of immigration using color as a unifying metaphor of diversity and acceptance

© Ruth Prieto - Lluvia sits on her bed with a pink dress bought for special occasions.
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Lluvia sits on her bed with a pink dress bought for special occasions.

© Ruth Prieto - Juanita on her daily activities while her daugther Lluvia plays around the window and the bed.
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Juanita on her daily activities while her daugther Lluvia plays around the window and the bed.

© Ruth Prieto - Juanita watches her favourite T.V soap opera "Una familia con suerte".
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Juanita watches her favourite T.V soap opera "Una familia con suerte".

© Ruth Prieto - Image from the Safe Heaven (Yellow)  photography project
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Lluvia Denisse Tellez Monter was born in the United States. She no longer lives with her biological father. The neighbors look after her when her mum Juanita has to go to work.

© Ruth Prieto - Image from the Safe Heaven (Yellow)  photography project
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Juana Monter (22) has been in the States for 4 years. She is originary from Zacualpan, a town in the state of Veracruz, México.

© Ruth Prieto - Juanita and Lluvias' room.
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Juanita and Lluvias' room.

© Ruth Prieto - Juanita´s Kitchen
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Juanita´s Kitchen

© Ruth Prieto - Juanita´s roomate bed at the living room.
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Juanita´s roomate bed at the living room.

© Ruth Prieto - Image from the Safe Heaven (Yellow)  photography project
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Lluvia plays with her doll. She was born in the United States. She no longer lives with her biological father. The neighbors look after her when her mum Juanita has to go to work.

© Ruth Prieto - Image from the Safe Heaven (Yellow)  photography project
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Juanita´s kitchen. She is usually the only person who takes care of the kitchen in the house. She lives in a two bedroom apartment with other four people.

© Ruth Prieto - Juanita prepares some quesadillas for lunch.
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Juanita prepares some quesadillas for lunch.

© Ruth Prieto - Lluvia (2) stares at the window. She often likes to climb up the edge of the window and jump into the bed.
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Lluvia (2) stares at the window. She often likes to climb up the edge of the window and jump into the bed.

© Ruth Prieto - Image from the Safe Heaven (Yellow)  photography project
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Juanita Monter takes a breath sitting on her bed at her house in Queens. She tried to cover the bed with plastic to protect it from her 2-year-old daughter Lluvia who wets the bed every other night

© Ruth Prieto - Image from the Safe Heaven (Yellow)  photography project
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Details on the wall reveal Juanita's partner main hobby and their devotions. A ferrari and a Virgen of Guadalupe hang on the wall.

© Ruth Prieto - Ballons on the wall as remains of Lluvias´ birthday party.
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Ballons on the wall as remains of Lluvias´ birthday party.

© Ruth Prieto - Lluvia stands on the door just after her mom yelled at her.
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Lluvia stands on the door just after her mom yelled at her.

© Ruth Prieto - Image from the Safe Heaven (Yellow)  photography project
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Rests of food after having lunch. Juanita and her daughter watch spanish speaking t.v network Univision talk show "Laura en America" with presenter Laura Bozzo.

© Ruth Prieto - Image from the Safe Heaven (Yellow)  photography project
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Lluvia Tellez Monter (2) has a tantrum after her mother takes a lipstick from her which she had wore all over her face, the matress and her clothes.

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