Salween

The Salween tells the story of the Karen people of Eastern Burma, many of whom have been forced to choose between staying in their homeland and fleeing across the Salween River into Thailand.
Decades of conflict have forced Karen communities to fight, flee their homes and live with the loss of family, land and security. Those who cross into Thailand face an uncertain future, with some living in refugee camps and others working illegally in factories, agriculture and other low-paid jobs.
Through portraits and landscapes, the project looks at life on both sides of the river and the continuing relationship between people, land and identity. The Salween has become a border between two very different lives, but also a route to safety and a place of return. Despite displacement and uncertainty, the Karen people continue to maintain their communities, culture and connection to their homeland.