When Frieke Janssens traveled to Indonesia, she was shocked to see a video of a chain-smoking two-year-old. In the Western world, most adults would be appalled to see a toddler touch a cigarette, let alone take a puff from it.
This is just one of the differences between western and eastern cultures, according to Janssens, which is why she was inspired to create the “Smoking Kids” photo series.
For the series, the artist photographed children dressed like adults – an actress, a boss, a housewife, and more – posing like smokers. Don’t worry – no cigarettes were used or even lit for this project. The smoke was provided by incense sticks (which smell much nicer), and the kids held chalk and cheese sticks instead of cigarettes or cigars.
The project causes one to consider the cultural significance of smoking and how it impacts children. If a young person witnesses their caretaker smoking every day, they are less likely to question the reason behind the compulsion or the associated health risks.
Scroll through the collection below:
Janssens does a variety of photo projects which you can learn about by visiting her website and Facebook page.
What are your thoughts on this “Smoking Kids” series? Comment below and please share this news!
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