The project explores the topic of migration during the so called ‚refugee crisis‘, a peak period in terms of numbers, in Germany between September 2015 and April 2016.
The inquiry is devoted to displaced migrants, which I photographed upon their arrival, and records different stages of hope and despair throughout a journey towards an anticipated, improved future. It also reflects on authorities‘ interventions, administrative responses and social interaction within our fragmented contemporary society.
The work is comprised of photographic prints, video and a newspaper publication, which includes photographs and various texts collected from both media-sources and personal archives.
THE TERM "REFUGEE" SHALL APPLY TO ANY PERSON WHO [...], OWING TO WELLFOUNDED FEAR OF BEING PERSECUTED FOR REASONS OF RACE, RELIGION, NATIONALITY, MEMBERSHIP OF A PARTICULAR SOCIAL GROUP OR POLITICAL OPINION, IS OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY OF HIS NATIONALITY AND IS UNABLE OR, OWING TO SUCH FEAR, IS UNWILLING TO AVAIL HIMSELF OF THE PROTECTION OF THAT COUNTRY
United Nations High Commission for Refugees, Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (1951), Article 1, [A(2)]
Video 5:38min, photographs and mixed audio sources, English subtitles, Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
BASED ON FORMER RESEARCH, WE ASSUME THAT THE ACCURACY OF MEDIA COVERAGE CAN BEST BE DETERMINED BY A COMPARISON OF MEDIA COVERAGE AND EXTERNAL INDICATORS OF REALITY LIKE OFFICIAL STATISTICS. THE BALANCE OF MEDIA COVERAGE CAN BE DEFINED AS THE FACT THAT IN THE MEDIA COVERAGE DIFFERENT ACTORS, TOPICS AND VIEWPOINTS ARE REPRESENTED APPROXIMATELY EQUALLY TO THEIR DISTRIBUTION IN REAL LIFE. IN GENERAL, FORMER RESEARCH SHOWS THAT MEDIA COVERAGE ABOUT MIGRANTS IS USUALLY NEITHER ACCURATE NOR BALANCED
Haßler, Jost, Maurer, Kruschinski: On the accuracy and balance of media coverage during the “refugee crisis”, Publizistik 2018, Abstract, ISSN: 0033-4006
DEVELOPMENT OF ANNUAL ASYLUM APPLICATION NUMBERS IN GERMANY SINCE 2010
2010 48,589
2011 53,347
2012 77,651
2013 127,023
2014 202,834
2015 476,649
2016 745,545
2017 222,683
2018 185,853
German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, http://www.bamf.de
DEVELOPING REGIONS HOSTET 86 PER CENT OF THE WORLD’S REFUGEES UNDER UNHCR’S MANDATE. AT 13.6 MILLION PEOPLE, THIS WAS THE HIGHEST FIGURE IN MORE THAN TWO DECADES. THE LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES PROVIDED ASYLUM TO 4.2 MILLION REFUGEES OR ABOUT 26 PER CENT OF THE GLOBAL TOTAL.
UNHCR, Global Trends, Forced Dispalcement in 2015, p.2
In 2015, an increasing number of people risked their lives to cross the Mediterranean Sea in search of safety and protection. More than 1 million people arrived in Europe by boat during the year, with 84 per cent from the world’s top 10 refugee-producing countries, including the Syrian Arab Republic, Afghanistan, and Iraq in the top three.
[…] The impact of the crisis was felt across the continent, due to the significant onward movement from Greece to countries in Western and Northern Europe through the Western Balkans route. During the summer and early autumn thousands of people were crossing borders across numerous countries.
[…] The refugee emergency in Europe tested asylum and reception systems in 2015, and illustrated the imperative of a comprehensive response, based on solidarity and responsibility sharing. Existing frameworks were in many instances unable to facilitate the management of the crisis or preserve the protection space in a sustainable manner. Numerous European countries responded to the crisis by unilaterally imposing greater restrictions on access to their territories. In particular, 2015 saw increased border controls and fences erected along borders between several countries in an effort to thwart the movement of refugees into their countries and across Europe. In addition, many countries passed legislation restricting access to asylum systems and placing limitations on family reunification.
UNHCR, Global Trends, Forced Displacement in 2015, p.32-34
HUMAN BEINGS ARRIVE HERE WHO HAVE BEEN FLEEING FOR DAYS, WEEKS, IF NOT MONTHS, FROM WAR, DEATH AND MISERY. THEY HARDLY SLEPT. AND THEN HERE YOU ARE, AND HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WHO ARE TRYING TO MAKE THESE PEOPLE SOMEHOW, AND AFTER A LONG TIME, FINALLY COME TO REST. YOU GIVE THEM FOOD, DRINK AND CLOTHES AND YOU RECEIVE THE REFUGEES WITH A SMILE AND SAY WELCOME...
Rudi Borsch, coordinator of the volunteer helpers at Munich Cental station, September 2015, (quoted from a radio interview at Südwestrundfunk Anstalt des öffentlichen Rechts, 11.9.2015)
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Displaced – exhibition at Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
September 20 – October 27, 2019, curated by Valentine Umansky