Photo #3. version 2. The Playground

version 2

Through the window, a friend is seen. While most friends know the story behind Ardi's scars, some still like to make fun of his appearance. When confronted, Ardi says "God made me. I am God's"

Photo #3. Doublemiddlefingers

Ardi caught throwing middle fingers to his peers while he's inside a room watching them playing in the playground. Even tough his friends know the story behind, some of them still make fun of Ardi's scars that causes uneasiness on him. When confronted, he says "God made me. I am God's"

Photo #2. A Grandmother's Comfort

(describing a change in behavior and relationship, and that traumatized children needs attention to heal trauma)

Photo #1, version 2

Version 2.

Ardiansah, 8, shows his hand he usually hides. It took three months to heal the burn, but the scar tissue never fully heals. While the scars on his tights can be hid by clothing, scars on his hands are always exposed.

Photo #1

Ardiansah, 8, shows his hand he usually hides. It took three months to heal the burn, but the scar tissue never fully heals. While the scars on his tights can be hid by clothing, scars on his hands are always exposed.

Foreword + Note to Sasa and Riva

Ardiansah, 8 years old, is one of the victims of LPG cylinder explosions in 2010, months after the Indonesian government made a policy to swap kerosene-fueled stove to LPG fueled stove to save the budget. The policy didn't go smoothly with many explosions reported and hit the news, created paranoia among people. Lack of information and the poor quality of the cylinders are among the culprit of the tragedies.

Eight months after the explosion, Ardi no longer feels pain. But the burns on his limbs have built an invisible barriers that border Ardi and his environment. People lingers on his scars which in turn make Ardi feels uncomfortable. To avoid it, Ardi hides his hands and sometimes he hides himself.

Ardi is also traumatized.

There is a long way to regain his life back. The real struggle happens after the news fades.




***

Please note that the photos, the caption and all are still unfinished. As of late March 2011, I have just been doing interviews and taking some photographs in subject's home and playground.

There are elements of the story which I haven't touched yet.