Unhidden in plain sight

Unhidden in Plain Sight is a thought-provoking display of photographs that reflects complex journeys into and out of modern slavery.

The project

Unhidden in Plain Sight is a collaboration between photographer Jeremy Abrahams and University of Sheffield academics Dr Hannah Lewis and Dr Gwyneth Lonergan to counter images used in anti-modern slavery campaigns, which often stereotype and re-victimise the people they are trying to support.

We worked in partnership with three Sheffield-based organisations - City Hearts (now Causeway), Ashiana and The Snowdrop Project - to create a set of images that can be used by anti-trafficking campaign organisations and those which support victims of exploitation and abuse.

We worked together for eight months in 2018 to develop the exhibition. We had meetings and workshops to analyse and critique existing images in use in the anti-trafficking sector, identify themes to reflect complexities of severe exploitation, and established ethical guidelines. This work formed the basis of the photographs created by Jeremy Abrahams.

Up and coming British actress Justina Aina was hired to appear in the photographs and the final selection of images was guided by Minh Dang of Survivor Alliance.  All of the quotes are from survivors of human trafficking in recent research and reports, used with their permission (references below).

In September 2021, the guidance and learning from the project was developed into a training package on ethical representation  of modern slavery, in partnership with Freedom United. This workshop lead to the development of Freedom United's Content Guidelines.  

Interested in running your own workshop? The training package is available here: https://www.freedomunited.org/my-story-my-dignity-workshop-resource-pack/ 

Exhibition

Media release (PDF, 283KB)

The exhibition was open to the public 20-30 September in the Winter Garden, 90 Surrey Street, Sheffield, S1 2LH.

The development of the project was discussed at three Unhidden Audience Workshops in the Carpenter Room, Sheffield Central Library:  Sat 22, 12pm; Tue 25, 12pm; Wed 26, 5.30pm.

Partners

Jeremy Abrahams‘ previous work includes Arrivals: Making Sheffield Home, which was exhibited at Weston Park Museum and Remain/Leave, which was part of the 2017 Off the Shelf Festival and Festival of Social Science.

Hannah Lewis and Gwyneth Lonergan, Sociological Studies, University of Sheffield work  on the ESRC project ‘Understanding the roles of faith based organisations in anti-trafficking’.

Ashiana Sheffield works with Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Refugee (BAMER) adults, children and young people fleeing abuse including forced marriage, human trafficking, and ‘honour’ based violence. www.ashianasheffield.org

City Hearts (now Causeway) pursues the freedom and restoration of lives torn apart by modern slavery and other life controlling issues. They create projects to bring real chance to vulnerable and exploited people in society.

Snowdrop was founded to address the gap in long-term support to empower survivors of human trafficking. They provide community support, including casework, befriending, house renovation and counselling. www.snowdropproject.co.uk

Follow-up project - My Story, My Dignity training and resource pack: 

Freedom United

Acknowledgements

Thanks to: Justina Aina, The Co-op, Minh Dang - Survivor Alliance, First Bus, Jason Darke, Linda Green, Afua Twum-Danso Imoh, The Lantern Theatre, Sine Plambech, The Stillpoint Practice.

The people in the images are actors. Thanks to the Sophie Hayes Foundation, The Human Trafficking Foundation, The Co-op, The Snowdrop Project, The Centre for Social Justice, Mind, Unseen for permission to use quotes.

References

Quotes used with the images in the Unhidden collection were taken from the following reports and research.

1. Unseen. (2018) Dorina’s Story. Available at: unseenuk.org/our-impact/case-studies2.

2. CSJ Modern Slavery Working Group 2013. ‘It Happens Here: Equipping the United Kingdom to fight modern slavery’. London: Centre for Social Justice. p. 161.

3. Snowdrop Project. (2017) Sophie’s Story. Available at: snowdropproject.co.uk/our-story/survivors-stories/.

4. Bradstock, F., Chalke, E., Crossley, E. and Johnson, K. 2014. ‘Becoming Hope: Stories, Reflections and Recommendations about Trafficking and Slavery Aftercare in the UK’. London: The Sophie Hayes Foundation. p. 23.

5. Snowdrop Project. (2017) Sophie’s Story. Available at: snowdropproject.co.uk/our-story/survivors-stories/.

6. Beddoe, C., Bundock, L. and Jardan, T. 2015. ‘Life Beyond the Safe House for Survivors of Modern Slavery of London’. London: Human Trafficking Foundation. p. 25.

7. Ferrell-Schweppenstedde, S. 2016. ‘Day 46: Is there life after the safe house for survivors of modern slavery’. London: The Human Trafficking Foundation, p. 15.

8. Mind. (2016) Dissociative Disorders. Available at: mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/dissociative-disorders/.

9. Bradstock, F., Chalke, E., Crossley, E. and Johnson, K. 2014. ‘Becoming Hope: Stories, Reflections and Recommendations about Trafficking and Slavery Aftercare in the UK’. London: The Sophie Hayes Foundation. p. 43.

10. Balch, A., Craig, G., Roberts, K. and Williams-Woods, A. 2017. ‘The Co-op’s Bright Future programme: an Independent Interim Review’. Liverpool: The Co-op and University of Liverpool.p. 9.

11. CSJ Modern Slavery Working Group 2013. ‘It Happens Here: Equipping the United Kingdom to fight modern slavery’. London: Centre for Social Justice, p. 101.