Malaysian doctor highlights Semporna's stateless kids in London photo exhibit
An avid photographer, Dr Byron Mohammad Hamzah is hoping to make a difference by holding a photo exhibition in London on the lives of stateless children in Semporna, Sabah. The Britain-based award-winning lensman says the exhibition is a celebration of the culture, spirit and determination of the displaced youth of Semporna.
"I have always been intrigued by the lives of those on the margins, and stateless people in Malaysia are no exception. "The struggles faced by stateless communities have long been a concern to me, and I felt that reading about them in newspapers wasn't enough. I wanted to understand the situation on the ground.
"As I have always believed in the power of photography in telling a story and its ability to encourage engagement, I decided to use it as a tool to explore their narrative and share what I learned with a wider audience," says the Nottingham-based Dr Byron, 42, in an email interview. 'I have always believed in the power of photography in telling a story and its ability to encourage engagement,' says Dr Byron.
Titled Bunga dan Tembok – Pemuda-Pemuda Tanpa Warganegara Semporna (The Flower and the Wall – Stateless Youths of Semporna), the exhibition runs from June 26-28 (6pm-10pm) at the Photofusion Gallery in Brixton, London. Featuring about 40 images and a self-made photobook, the exhibition is the result of nearly two years of work. The free exhibition is part of a final graduate showcase at the University of the Arts London, where Dr Byron has been pursuing his studies in photography. There will be seven other photographers from Britain and across Europe participating in the exhibition.
A powerful tool
Photography has been Dr Byron's passion for decades. To him, it is a way to capture the true essence of people and communities.
In 2020, he was selected as one of the winners of the British Journal of Photography's Portrait of Britain competition.
In 2022, he launched his first documentary photography project, Salam Malaya (Hello Malaya), driven by a desire to reconnect with his homeland.
The exhibition merges documentary storytelling, underlining the power of photography to educate and inspire.
The following year (2023), his other documentary photography project Yang Tinggal Hanya Kita (All That Is Left Is Us) was selected as a finalist in the 2023 Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize, one of the biggest international documentary portrait awards organised by London's National Portrait Gallery.
While his earlier works focused on understanding his identity as a Malaysian, his current project shifts the focus outward - into the lives of others.
"I always assumed photography to be a solitary and sometimes lonely pursuit, but this project proved it doesn't have to be. I have learned that photography can build friendships and enrich lives - especially in this case, with the children and youth," says Dr Byron, who has been living in Britain for 20 years.
Dr Byron collaborated with stateless youth from Semporna for the project, encouraging their participation in shaping how they were portrayed. "As a result, the experience involved working with people, negotiating and a whole lot more planning. I truly enjoyed the collaborative aspect and the new connections it brought," says the KL-born medical practitioner, who worked closely with students from a free school run by Borneo Komrad – a grassroots non-governmental organisation that provides education for stateless communities – through four extended trips to Semporna.
Survival and resilienceBunga dan Tembok carries the theme of civil rights and injustice. Dr Byron explains that the project title comes from a poem by Indonesian poet, Wiji Thukul. "In class, the marginalised youth are also taught literature and I remember sitting in on a class discussion on the poem. I had never heard of that poem, let alone of Wiji Thukul, and I went on to research his work.
"It was a beautiful poem and a great allegory for the lives of the children there. Hence, I thought it was a fitting name for the project," shares Dr Byron, who will be discussing his project on June 28 (8pm, local time) as part of the symposium.For the project, he chose to focus on the positive aspects of Semporna's stateless youth, and involved the marginalised kids in the creative process.
"Many photographers, especially from the West, have documented this community, but often with a focus on deprivation and hardship. While relevant, the images tend to lean towards misery and exploit poverty.
Dr Byron's aim through the exhibition is to shed light on the resilience of marginalised communities.
"I wanted to shift the narrative. I focused on the students' lives at a more personal level.
"As an outsider, I was initially unsure about gaining their trust, so I took a collaborative approach. I invited them to participate in how they wanted to be represented. Over time, that involvement helped build trust, and allowed their personalities to shine," says Dr Byron, who shares his photos on his Instagram.
Working with these children for two years was indeed an eye-opener for Dr Byron.
Over the years, he has forged close relationships with many of them. He also praises the amazing teachers who continue to guide these displaced youth. Above all, he has also learned the true meaning of resilience and survival. "
These two words have resonated a lot with me throughout this experience and I have observed this so much in the children I have worked with, which has really inspired me. "It has also given me a new perspective on life, helped me readjust my priorities, and changed how I manage my own tribulations.
"In the end, all I see are little children living in crisis, so it is hard not to be affected by it, or to keep it from becoming a matter that is close to your heart."In an ideal world, I want them to achieve the justice and equality they truly deserve. I will always support their fight. "With the knowledge and skills they've gained from the free school, I hope they'll continue to support themselves and advocate for their rights," he says.
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