NOT FOR SALE (2007) is a work in progress about children that are for sale around the world.
The project started in Bangkok, Thailand, where Framis made the first portraits of children that are naked except for a necklace that says NOT FOR SALE.
At first sight the images appear sweet and soft; the boys are smiling and seem to be happy and healthy. It is only at the second glance that you notice what Framis is pointing out: the reality of the fragile and dangerous position of many children these days. From the moment we are born we have a price, but for many children there is a real risk to be actually sold.
Since living in China, Framis is interested in the idea of portraits as propaganda, like the ones of Mao Zedong, or the king of Thailand Bhumibol Adulyadej, that has his portrait all around the city; printed in the same measures that Alicia’s photos.
In ‘NOT FOR SALE’ she is using the methods of propaganda portraits but changed the subject from leaders to a more domestic version. Propaganda posters always have this optimistic, cheerful appearance with certain details or attributes conveying the message. Just showing him slightly from below or with the flag or the crowd in the background, shows the power of leader.
Framis shows the beautiful smiling kids in their idyllic surroundings, with only their small attribute of the necklace revealing their possible fate.