Lee Karen Stow is a Photographer and Visual Researcher working with and alongside women survivors of war, conflict, persecution and displacement and offers alternative perspectives of conventional ‘war photography’.
In 2010, The Art House staged the touring project 42 – Women of Sierra Leone, a powerful and moving photographic exhibition celebrating women’s beauty, strength, and resilience in West Africa. Through a series of intimate portraits, Stow captures the enduring spirit of women who face unimaginable adversity in their daily lives. Despite Sierra Leone’s status as the poorest country in the world, with a life expectancy of just 42 years for women, Stow’s work radiates hope, dignity, and inspiration.
In 2007 Sierra Leone was emerging from eleven years of civil war. The United Nations ranked it as one of the poorest countries in the world. Women especially faced great hardship and despair, lacking equal access to education, economic opportunities and rights to life and health.
Stow’s long-term photographic study was born from the artist’s desire to learn more about the women in Freetown in Sierra Leone, a twinned city of her hometown Kingston upon Hull in East Yorkshire. As she immersed herself in their stories, Stow was struck by the incredible resilience, belief, and inner strength that the women embody in the face of overwhelming hardship.
Stow explains that the goal of the exhibition was to demonstrate that hope can emerge even from the most “awful, unavoidable conditions.” She shares, “The hope comes from the women themselves—from within them, through their resilience and belief. They have much to teach us.” Through her lens, Stow offers a glimpse into the lives of these women, revealing not just their struggles but their courage and tenacity.
The exhibition launch featured live music from Sierra Leone, with performances by Ali Bullivant accompanied by traditional African drums, bringing the spirit of the country to life. In addition to Stow’s striking photographs, the exhibition also showcased works by local artists, including Jo Hassal, Liz Sterling, and Conway & Young, who contributed pieces exploring the theme of women’s empowerment.
