“Oui au travail non a la mendicite” - Live in oneself-

• Photographer
  Hiroshi Aoki, Japan

Here is Republic of Mali in West Africa.
The country was divided into two virtually by the armed uprising
that broke out in the northern part in 2012.And military collision
still continues here. Then a large
number of refugees overflowed from the north.
Problems of a remarkable rise in prices and Lack of infrastructure
development become serious with it in not only the area spreading
out of the battle but also the southern part.
They took refuge from Gao and Kidal of the northern part where a
battle intensified. And they helped each other here and began life.
They are people with a physical disability by various reasons
including a civil war. There’s nowhere else to go.
"Live in oneself" is to be common to them who with disabilities.
A German NGO established it with “Oui au travail non a la
mendicite” as a concept here in 2003. But now most of the help
does not receive it for reasons of the intensification of the civil
war.
They chose that “We are dignified and live. Beg and do not live
miserably, even if we suffer a disorder in a body, even if the
difficult future was waiting us cause of the war.” They chose that
do not abandon own existence in society.
They who live in deference to "dignity" as the human being are
powerful and are dazzling and are beautiful.
I know, not only Africa, it is the situation same in countries of the
world. In a true meaning "support." It do a help so that not only
give money and a material, but also people living there can stand
up in oneself. People like them. The specialized staff and
environment of that purpose are not enough at all. This project
wants to become the first step.

Hiroshi Aoki (Japanese, b.1976) http://www.hiroshiaoki-photo.com

Over the thirteen-year his career photographed many of recent history's defining human rights and conflict issues. Aoki's work reflects his belief in photojournalism's role as an instrument of witness and memory to incite change, and the necessity of telling the stories of people who are rendered powerless to tell their own.

Aoki's work takes the viewer to the limits of human despair, dignity, suffering and hope. His images are relevant to us all, because they form a chronicle of the time in which we live, but at times do not dare to recognize.

Aoki has received awards from the Japanese photography industry and his works collected in a museum and some galleries. Aoki's work has been widely exhibited, and has been showed by some books.
In 2012, Aoki released �HEAL AFRICA�(TOSEI publishing Co., Ltd), It telling about human despair, dignity, suffering and hope in Africa including Somalia, Congo, Sudan, Chad etc. Need to share the necessity of telling the stories of people who are powerless. Aoki believe that his works to change the world.

Aoki has been started a project �THE CHORD� to contribute to the society from 2017. It is fusion of art and the journalism. For the purpose art and journalism perform collaboration and associate with society deeply. He lives Yokohama, Japan with his wife. Hiroshi Aoki works as a freelancer on both commercial as journalistic projects. He is based in Japan.

Awards 2018 PX3 Bronze Winner
2014 PX3 Silver Winner
2007 Konica Minolta 　FOTO PREMIO Award JAPAN
2007 P.O.S. Photo Festival 　 Young photographer Award JAPAN