Happy 40th Birthday?

Author(s): Muhammad Azhar S/O Haj Mohamed

Type: Photograph

Department: Department of Social Policy

Exhibit no: 49


Muhammad Azhar S/O Haj Mohamed
A rough sleeper inside a sleeping bag in a doorway in London. Beside an open carton of grapes, a handwritten cardboard sign begins "today is my 40th birthday."

Amongst the 8,108 rough sleepers in London, is this man. On his birthday, he lies homeless. Shut away from a world that has neglected him.

Hundreds passed by him without even a glance. I wanted to capture the explicit poverty we see every day, and yet remain unmoved. Have we become guiltless or have we become numb to the prevalent suffering around us? What are you going to do about it?

The catchphrase “Life begins at 40” implies the start of a better future. How would you want your 40th birthday to be?