Productive Lives by Alex Masi (November 20, 2009) 
(1 votes, average: 3.00 out of 5)
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Curator Statement by The Black Snapper
Productive Lives touches on a subject that deserves the wide attention of consumers and policy makers in the Western World, the problem of child labour in developing economies. Poverty makes people vulnerable to exploitation and children are especially at risk. With a global crisis raging through our economies, this and other aspects of corporate governance may not have the focus they need and deserve. Alex' story is an important reminder.
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Our poll "A photo essay always needs a great written story" closed. 267 people voted, 28% agrees, 72% disagrees. 233 people answered our follow-up question "Are you a photographer?" 82% indicated they are, 18% said no. Initially, negative answers to question #1 were almost 100% as was the pecentage of photographers among respondants. Then, when the level of non-photographers started to rise, the percentage of people indicating good text is always essential started to rise too. This seems to indicate that non-photographers think that adding good text to your photo essays is essential. In my opinion: if you want non-photographers to dig your work, you know what to do...
‘Productive Lives’ is an investigative documentation focused on the social environmental exploitation in Jajmau Industrial Area, near Kanpur, central Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state and one of its poorest.
A maze of run-down buildings, narrow roads, dumping grounds and sewage drains, Jajmau is composed of around four hundred tanneries, forty per cent of which are considered illegal. Grown uncontrolled on the banks of the holy Ganges River, it is renowned for being one of the most important centres for leather in Asia. Its items, produced mostly on commission for international brands, are traded worldwide.
Contrary to the image of safety and responsibility that consumers are being presented with, my images serve as proof of the reality faced by local people and their environment. Inside many of the tanneries children collect skins in dark wet pools; others are bent under the Sun, employed in scraps disposal grounds. Spending long hours in toxic, harmful environments, they earn as little as sixty Indian Rupees per day (1 €).
Alex Masi (1981) lives and works in London, UK / Mumbai, India.
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