"No one chooses to be a refugee. We all deserve to have a home and to be safe.

– Hangama Amiri

Displaced: A Refugee’s Story

The migrant crisis represents a significant and urgent issue in this nation. Faced with unpredictable and often dangerous circumstances, many migrants must make difficult decisions about what belongings to take and what to leave behind as they embark on their journey. The items they choose to carry often reflect their identities and values. For my final contemporary art project, I was tasked with envisioning myself as a migrant. In moments of crisis, what object would I choose to bring with me, and in what manner? Through a series of evocative photographs, each image offers insight into personal realities, emphasizing elements of my personality and highlighting values such as comfort and essential needs. This photographic exploration of the migrant crisis aims to illuminate the complex and frequently misrepresented experiences of migrants. It challenges the narratives typically presented in the media, reminding us that each statistic corresponds to an individual with their own dreams, fears, and aspirations.

Items shown: backpack, pocket hand sanitizer, pencil, eraser, water bottle, vaseline, plastic spoon, headscarf, headphones, ring watch, pack of gum, contact lens case, medication, protein bar, sanitary pad, manga (3), identification card, plush doll