Jonghun Lee BEYOND THE WALL

In 2013, South Korean photographer Jonghun Lee learned of Makandi prison, a jail in Malawi that allows inmates to pay back their debt to society by growing corn, soybeans and other crops that feed both the prison population and students in nearby schools. As Lee describes it, “The hands of the prisoners, once marked by violence, are turned towards a new purpose: providing for the children and enriching the community.” A graduate of Ajou University in South

Korea, Lee received permission from the Malawi Prison Service and began photographing and filming the prisoners in 2014. The series is ongoing and so far, Lee has met about 700 inmates in the facility. For a sub-series called “Waiting to Return Home,” Lee also conducted in-depth interviews with ten prisoners who had been or were soon to be released.

Through images, Lee showcases the conditions in the prison—portrayed as overcrowded and decrepit—as well as the physical labor required from each prisoner on a daily basis. His images capture muddy hands, cramped quarters and impoverished conditions as well as camaraderie and mutual respect among the prisoners. “The story of these inmates provides some inspiration for the kinds of social cohesion that we could help create in our own society,” Lee explains. “I hope that the photographs I take can play a small part in the interest of people who are doing their part in silence at the bottom of society.”

—Amy Touchette

Photos © Jonghun Lee leejonghun.com