21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Luhu shi woman

Luhu Shi minority lives in remote villages across eastern Myanmar. This is the wife of the chef of the village and she was just listening to our conversation about the Luhu Shi community, their connection with hundreds of other villages across the hills and the crisis that resulted in shortage of food supplies for winter. She entered the conversation when I asked how many children they have and her husband got confused for a moment. She answered 24 and added that 6 of them are deceased. After that she kind of got caught in her own thoughts alienating from our conversation. Looking at her I saw a mother that lost a child. A pain that never goes away. No matter where you are, what culture you grew in or how many children you had, mother’s pain is still there.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 03.2020
Date Uploaded: 11.2023
Photo Location: Myanmar
Copyright: © Aleksandra Bankowicz