DISORDER_2011-¬2016 (ongoing)_ is a documentary photo-
reportage concerning abuse against people with psychosocial
disabilities in Indonesia:
Pasung is the Indonesian term for shackling. It can also refer to
being kept in chains, stocks or locked in a room, cell, or pen.
Initially banned in 1977, pasung is the widespread traditional
response to mental disorders throughout Indonesia and it is an
act of desperation. Caregivers resort to pasung when they
cannot afford care, fear medications and addiction, want to
avoid the stigma attached to a diagnosis of mental illness or
most commonly, feel it is necessary to protect family,
community, as well as the disturbed individual. Indonesia is
estimated to have over 19 million people with psychosocial
disabilities. Inadequate access to the medications and
treatments commonly available throughout much of the world
has devastating consequences. Many people don’t even know
they can get better.
Andrea Star Reese is a photojournalist based in New York.
Reese’s photographs from her ongoing series DISORDER used by Human Rights Watch and local NGO's garnered widespread media attention on the issue of shackling and confinement of people with mental health conditions in Indonesia.
Her reportage helped to build national and international pressure resulting in systemic change on the ground.
URBAN CAVE, a seven-year documentary on unsheltered persons living underground in New York City resulted in a 2015 photo book published by FotoEvidence with text written by Reese and the people depicted.
Awards PHOTOGRAPHY:
2016 Lucie Award Deeper Perspective Photographer of the Year_DISORDER
2016 The Berlin Foto Biennale_Documentary Award: Best Portfolio on Human Rights_ DISORDER
2016 IPA 1st Place Professional, Deeper Perspective_ DISORDER
2016 Two Julia Margaret Cameron Awards_FIRST Overall_ DISORDER and URBAN CAVE
2014 David Pike Excellence in Journalism Award, photography category_ URBAN CAVE
2011 Finalist POYI_ Picture of the Year World Understanding_URBAN CAVE
2010 Nominated VISA POUR l'IMAGE_ Visa d’or Feature URBAN CAVE
2010 reGeneration2: Tomorrows Photographers Today_ Musee de l'Elysee
2009 Best Social Documentary New York Photo Awards_URBAN CAVE
2008 Les Visas de L’ANI_URBAN CAVE
2008 ASMP Judges Choice Award_ URBAN CAVE
GRANT:
2010 FELLOWSHIP:_New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in Photography
Photographs from URBAN CAVE are in the Musee de l'Elysee permanent collection
2008 Eddie Adams Workshop: A Workshop Award
FILM:
FEATURE LENGTH 35mm DRAMATIC FILM
1996_ Unsettled Dreams_ Producer, Director, ScreenWriter, Editor
Screenings/awards
1996 Mostra Sao Paulo Int Film Festival.
1996 Kiev Int Film Festival
1996 International due Cinema da Figueira da Foz _ HONORABLE MENTION
1996 Sinking Creek Film/Video Festival_ HONORABLE MENTION
1996 Central Florida Film &Video Festival_BEST FEATURE FILM
1996 The Philadelphia International Film Festival Philafilm 96, BEST OF FESTIVAL
1996 The Philadelphia International Film Festival Philafilm 96, BEST FEATURE FILM
VIDEO:
1996 screenings: IMZ Dance screen; Video Grand Prix Dance; American Dance Festival
GRANT
1990_ Dance Theater Workshop’s "First Light Grant" from The Jerome Foundation. For the film elements of "SURVEILLANCE "a Multimedia Dance Work/ Donald Byrd/The Group
