The subjects of MASKED PORTRAITS (2005) are young Indian women who have been rescued from human trafficking. With the aid of clothing, poses and objects they represent their life in the past, that was permeated with deception, abuse and violence. In order to hide their identity, the women choose a character from the world of religion, mythology, folklore or television. For instance, we see elements of the housewife, Hindustani woman and Bollywood starlet, symbols for tradition, religion and beauty. At the same time, the masquerade represents the great change that the women have undergone with respect to their earlier lives.

Before he began to photograph, Achinto Bhadra (India, b. 1959) worked with the mentally handicapped. His photographic interests focus particularly on women, migrants, child labor and urban poverty in India.