Behind Closed Doors

An exhibition looking at two very different examples of the lengths people go to in pursuit of domestic order. In Domestic Slavery Raphael Dallaporta and Ondine Millot address an often-ignored social wrong that is related to issues of human trafficking: modern slavery. Dallaporta’s cold and stark images of ordinary-looking buildings in and around Paris, shot simply and in the same light, are combined with Ondine Millot’s texts to become chilling portraits of hidden agony.

Across the Atlantic in Brazil, having one or more domestic maids is the norm for middle class families. As the country’s economy booms, larger and more luxurious apartments are springing up and thus so does the need for more maids to clean them. However, the women who traditionally are maids are also becoming empowered and finding alternative emploments. Artist Andre Penteado's project Brazilian Maids presents photographic and video work exploring this “maid problem” which is currently a hot topic of discussion in Brazil.