Call me by my name: stories for Calais and beyond

MMP-Calais-Facebook

A new exhibition at Londonewcastle Project Space just opened until 22 June. The exhibition called ‘Call me by my name: stories from Calais and beyond’ features a multitude of pictures, sculptures and installations by artists and photographers.

Not only are emerging artists featured in this exhibition, but refugees, camp residents and volunteers from Calais camp. The encampment is an area outside of Calais, France, where migrants live while they attempt to entire the United Kingdom. This area of shantytowns and inhabitants has been a constant source of debate in the nation. With the area right at our doorstep and discussions surrounding the status of migration, this exhibition continues to challenge the issues.

Call me by my name_Press images_Image 1_Wanderers Nikolaj Bendix Skyum Larsen_med res

Wanderers, a sculptural installation by artist Nikolaj Benix Skyum Larsen, is one standout piece in the exhibition. The installation comprises of 330 individual, hand-made figures. These figures are moving, striding, stumbling and even crawling. It echo’s the dehumanization that the refugees at this camp feel from the way their migration is depicted across media and many political platforms.

Call me by my name_Press images_Image 2_Majeed Nick Ellwood_med res

Other projects include an installation of lifejackets, each embedded with the individual name and story of someone who arrived in Greece by boat. One project created by refugee artists and photographers in the camp features photographs of eight camp residents, many of whom are children.

Call me by my name_Press images_Alan Kurdi ALPHA_med res

Every project strives towards exploring identity of these migrants and refugees that have been all over the news. The artists worked with the challenge of producing photography, illustrations and representations to show life as a refugee in different contexts.

This exhibit could not be more timely. Migration Museum Project’s believe that it is time for people to examine the contemporary issues with migration development as it is placed into an artistic lens.

To learn more about the exhibit go to http://migrationmuseum.org/exhibition/calaisstories/

Image credit: Paul Evans, Nikolaj Bendix Skyum Larsen, Nick Ellwood, and Alan Kurdi