These volumes are the result of two collaborative workshops conducted by the artist in 2020 in Cherbourg, and in 2022 in Givors, with asylum seekers.
Each of the participants first identified the places that made an impression on them when they arrived in the city, that they visit every day, that they particularly like, or that characterize France for them. After a first phase of recognition, the landscapes were made with an 8 by 10 inch camera in dialogue with the artist.
All participants printed contact sheets for their photographs, and then wrote captions for them in their native language.
Image caption:
“I come here every day to look at the water. Even when it is calm and beautiful, it reminds me of my journey to Europe. I crossed the sea between Turkey and Greece on a small boat for twelve hours. The mere memory of the depth of the water scares me, makes my whole body tremble and wakes me up at night. Drowning, as well as witnessing the drowning of a family, of children who left with their parents to realize their dreams, would have been terrible for me. We were all on a boat that was not adapted to the situation, nor to this sea. Despite everything, we had the hope that God would protect us.” (Translated from Dari)
Habibollah R. – Quai de la Navigation – Givors – March 2022
