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The Encyclopedia of Photography’s Art and History

"Life In The Cage", Mohammad Shahnewaz Khan (1984) | PhotoAnthology

Life In The Cage

Mohammad Shahnewaz Khan (1984)

Confinement during lockdown within a shared home reveals emotional strain, interdependence, and adaptation among family members.

With contributions from: Alasdair Foster, Talking Pictures (curator). Suggest an Edit

Life In The Cage

Mohammad Shahnewaz Khan (1984)

Confinement during lockdown within a shared home reveals emotional strain, interdependence, and adaptation among family members.

Self-portrait. For a time, it seemed that I could no longer be worldly, it would have been better if there was no family, I want to escape from family life, I am stuck, I want to be free from all family ties. 2020

Portrait of my wife, Negar Sultana. I am a photographer, and Negar is studying economics; we have two kids. Here, I’m trying to understand our relationship. We’re moving away from each other… 2020

Daily family life during Covid-19 pandemic lockdown. 2020

I have two kids, and two of my younger brothers also have children. During this time, the kids are restless and out of control, always trying to go out and crying. I just try to make them happy. 2020

Self-portrait. I’m trying to discover the mystery of life and peace by embracing a dead fish. 2020

There is no sleep in the eyes of the children during Covid-19 pandemic lockdown days, they become restless to play and go out. 2020

Daily Nighttime in the month of Ramadan during Coronavirus pandemic lockdown days, we are waiting for Sehri. 2020

Daily family life during COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown days. 2020

Caring for kids is hard work. For the first time, I realized how much work my wife does caring for the children. I’ve also been trying to help with other chores too. 2020

Here, I’m trying to understand our relationship during Coronavirus pandemic. We’re moving away from each other and not enjoying each other, even if we are sincere to each other. I’ve had the opportunity to observe our reality in depth... 2020

Portrait of my three and a half-year-old eldest child Hossain, here I tried to show the reality of children during COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown days. Children’s mental development is being hampered. 2020

My youngest child Imran, 22 months old, was ill several times during the lockdown, with flu symptoms and shortness of breath. We tried home remedies, as our doctor was unavailable for months. It was a terrible time in Bangladesh. 2020

After fasting all day, the whole family is having Iftar during Ramadan. Three brothers — me, Arman, and Ataul — and our families form a joint household. In this pandemic, I received great support from my wife and brothers. 2020

I like and enjoy smoking very much. That day I had no money and all shops were closed. I found one last cigarette and took a self-portrait, hiding to smoke among abandoned things so my kids wouldn’t see me. 2020

I’ve had heart disease since 2015, now also high blood pressure. I was feeling weak. My aunt had my brother check my BP — it was high. I went to the hospital the next day; Negar was with me. 2020

My two younger brothers and I lived together as a joint family, but during the Corona pandemic we were separated. Now we felt imprisoned in a new cage. Hossain cried and said he wouldn’t leave the house. 2020

Negar is trying to touch the raindrop. After many days of intense heat, it started raining a little. My wife ran to the roof, Hossain and I followed her. 2020

During the hard lockdown, I had a broken leg and caught the virus. My wife’s aunt, who lives with us, was also infected. Our kids stayed with their grandparents. We passed food through the door. It was a very hard time. 2021

On the roof, my wife Negar is holding our 22-month-old child Imran during the cyclone warning. He was sick, but we took him up to stop him from crying. 2020

After many days of heat, it finally rained a little. My wife Negar ran to the roof and Hossain and I followed. 2020

Once, Hossain was badly injured in his face. To stop bleeding, we tried to massage Hexisol on the wound and then he started crying loudly. 2020

I found out about the first two film-negatives of my life, I started photography in 2004 and for the first four years I used a film camera. The morning session was in CRB Hills and the evening in the Karnaphuli River. 2020

Imran with his angel on the roof of our home, as if he wants to fly to heaven. I tried to document the daily life of my children during the pandemic. The children’s mental development is being hampered. 2020

My three-and-a-half-year-old eldest child Hossain is running inside home, as if he has found the door of heaven. 2020

During the hard lockdown in Bangladesh, my broken leg had not healed and I was infected with coronavirus. My wife’s aunt was also infected. It was a hard time for our family. 2021

Negar is cutting Hossain’s nails. Suddenly, unfortunately, Hossain is in pain and starts crying loudly. 2020

Enjoying the last afternoon’s light with Imran, he asked me where is the Sun? During the pandemic, I tried to spend more time with my kids. 2020

Hugs with children after Eid prayers. I saw in the picture that my wife wasn’t looking for the kids to hug, she was waiting for me. We hadn’t hugged in a long time. 2020

My wife, my life. Negar is crying in solitude. She cared for us day and night while we were both infected. Her strength came from tears she hid from the world. 2021

We are celebrating the birthday of my youngest son Imran during the Covid-19 pandemic. 2020

Imran cries to go out while Hussein looks outside, frustrated. Our housebound children grew restless and suffered mental and physical stress during lockdown. 2020

More by Mohammad Shahnewaz Khan

Popy (8) collects garbage with her stepmother in a dump yard. She always brings her doll despite scolding. Migrated from Bhola island. Chittagong, Bangladesh, 2014.

Mohammad Shahnewaz Khan (1984)

Child labor in South Asia, with scenes of daily work and brief respite, amid poverty, climate disruption, and limited access to education.

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