Sopphart Collecting firewood with his two brothers, Sopphart stepped on a land mine. When his brothers rushed toward their younger sibling, one of them ran into the tripwire of another mine, triggering a second explosion. Not only did Sopphart lose part of one foot and sight in one eye; he also lost his two brothers. Sopphart’s parents, who live in a village near the Thai border, can’t afford to give him an education. He wants to become a teacher. Alors qu’il ramassait du bois de chauffage avec ses deux frères, Sopphart a mis le pied sur une mine terrestre. Quand ses frères se sont empressés d’aller à son secours, un de ceux-ci a trébuché sur le fil-piège d’une autre mine, déclenchant une deuxième explosion. Sopphart a non seulement perdu une partie d’un de ses pieds et la vue d’un œil, mais ses deux frères aussi. Les parents de Sopphart habitent dans un village près de la frontière de la Thaïlande; ils n’ont pas les moyens de payer pour ses études. Il veut devenir enseignant.

Living with Land Mines is an exhibition of 16 life-size portraits of Cambodian children who have suffered the effects of land mines. Photographed by Toronto-based V. Tony Hauser, the show is produced in collaboration with the Hon. Lloyd Axworthy, president of the University of Winnipeg.

The objective of the exhibit is to confront younger viewers with the devastating consequences of land mines around the world.

Starting this fall, two complete sets of the show will tour the country and be on display at 15 different universities. The University of Winnipeg will host the exhibition in November, during a land mine symposium organized by the Hon. Lloyd Axworthy to recognize the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Mine Ban Treaty, also known as the Ottawa Treaty.

V. Tony Hauser travelled to Siem Reap, Cambodia, in May 2006 to document the 16 children who are currently living at the Cambodia Land Mine Museum. Along with providing a dormitory and a school for children injured by land mines, the museum also acts as an education centre for visitors.

The children were photographed using a 4 x 5 view camera, Polaroid film and a seamless canvas backdrop. “I purposely chose to isolate them from their natural surroundings,” says Hauser. “I hoped this would elevate them and, at the same time, reveal my admiration for their strength. They live with the daily fear of land mines.”

This project would not possible without our generous supporters

BGM Imaging Inc.
Donald Graham, President
Exhibition Design Consultant: Gerry McCready, BGM

Mazzuca DPI Inc.


Text Editor - Susan Nerberg

To make donations to the Aki Ra Land Mines Museum contact:
The Cambodia Land Mine Museum Relief Fund
http://www.cambodialandminemuseum.org