Silent Songs for my Grandmother

• Prize
  Silver in Book/Documentary
• Photographer
  Claudia Hans
• Website
  https://www.claudiahans.com/

"Silent Songs for my grandmother" is an intervention work I made to narrate simultaneously a part of my grandmother's life, what happened during the holocaust and the current problems and realities of thousands of people. 42408 was the number that was given to my grandmother when she arrived to Mexico during World War II, 42408 was the number that gave her a refuge, a new home, her freedom. Under the same number another human being was deprived from his rights, his freedom and his life during the holocaust. Over the years I have wondered how could so many lives were taken from innocent people. The reality is that many of the things that happened at that time continue to happen nowadays; Intolerance, racism, inequality, violence, extreme measures, discrimination and pointing against minorities. We are part of a world that does not respect others and that continues to take away the rights of people who are at a disadvantage.

• Biography
  I was born in Mexico City in 1976, I have a degree and a master’s degree in clinical and educational psychology. In 2009 I became a professional photographer. My work has been included in national and international exhibitions and has received various awards and recognitions throughout the years. I have published three photobooks, two were self-published and the last one “Silent Songs” was a co edition between Editorial RM and Editorial Inframundo. Wolf Hans is my latest photobook and it was edited in 2019 during the Photobook as Object Workshop, held at Reminders Photography Stronghold.
• Awards
  2020 Shortlisted at the Kassel Dummy Award with “Wolf Hans”, Germany. 2020 Gold Medal at the Paris Photo Prize with “Wolf Hans”, France. 2017 Silver medal at the Tokyo Photo Awards with "Silent Songs for my Grandmother", Japan. 2017 First Place at the International Photography Awards in the Photobooks category with "Silent Songs for my Grandmother", New York. 2011 FONCA-Conaculta, National Grant "Jovenes Creadores in Photography", Mexico. 2010 Peoples Choice Award at the XIV Bienal of Photography, Mexico City. 2010 Honorable mention at the XIV Bienal of Photography, Mexico City. 2010 First place at the International Photography Awards in the Architecture: Historic Pro Category. 2010 Three honorable mentions at the International Photography Awards. 2010 Artists Wanted, fifty exceptional photographers. 2009 First place “Perspectivas II, photography contest”, Mexico City. 2009 Second place / silver single image winner at the London Photographic Association. 2009 Three honorable mentions at the International Photography Awards.