Deaf photographer shortlisted for top UK award

Stephen Iliffe has been shortlisted for Britain’s most prestigious photography award. See his photos here.

Stephen’s emotionally-charged portraits of a six-year old deaf child asylum seeker caught the attention of an elite panel of judges for A Portrait of Britain 2018 – the annual competition run by the British Journal of Photography.

As a shortlisted entrant, Stephen’s photos will feature in a globally-distributed book (with an intro by Will Self) published by Hoxton Mini Press, an award-winning independent publisher.

“I’m thrilled to be included in Portrait of Britain 2018,” says Stephen. “My images highlight the plight of deaf child refugees. It’s traumatic for any child to flee their
homeland and seek asylum in a distant country with an unfamiliar culture and language. For deaf children, it’s a double whammy as they can lack access to appropriate support.”

Stephen was commissioned by the Audiovisability project to help raise awareness of
six-year old deaf boy Lawand Hamadamin’s case.

After a traumatic journey from northern Iraq to UK, Lawand was supported by Deaf Kidz International and referred to Derby’s Royal School for Deaf Children where he learnt to communicate via sign language.

Despite his dramatic progress at Derby School, the UK government planned last year to summarily deport Lawand and his family without even formally considering their asylum request.

After a public outcry following a publicity campaign supported by Audiovisability, a High Court judge upheld an appeal by Lawand’s family to remain in the UK for the time being to allow their asylum request to be properly considered.

“For me the photograph of Lawand – and his brother Rawa – is symbolic,” says Stephen. “Living in barely-furnished temporary accommodation in Derby, the kids use their imagination to pass the time. As Lawand climbed up his bedroom walls to touch the ceiling, it metaphorically suggested his family’s desperate desire to be granted asylum in Britain now they have a tentative foothold here.”

The boys’ uncertain future and their longing to find a new home that will accept them is also captured in a second image as they gaze out of their window looking across the Derby back streets.

The judging panel includes key industry leaders Caroline Hunter, Picture Editor of The Guardian Weekend Magazine; Olivia Arthur, Magnum Photographer; Martin Usborne, Co-Founder of Hoxton Mini Press; and Simon Bainbridge, Editor at British Journal of Photography. The final winners for Portrait of Britain 2018 will be announced in August.