The Center of the World is a photographic project that aspires to challenge the status quo in refugee representation. Instead of depicting them as faceless masses or victims, this work aims to show refugees as individuals with dreams, interests, and aspirations.
The media often depict refugees in a manner that perpetuates prejudices. They are portrayed either as helpless or as threatening figures and such representations can marginalise them within society. As a photographer, I recognize the impact that images can have on shaping perceptions. The way refugees are photographed can reinforce or question these stereotypes, and it is crucial to be mindful of this.
In this body of work, every refugee has the opportunity to shape their image, while the chosen environment serves to redefine their conventional representation.
Through a collaborative approach, each portrait is combined with photographs that refugees have taken themselves. They are encouraged to document their sense of home, giving their interpretation of this universal sentiment, and offering a window into their identities. From here the decision to also present self-descriptions that go beyond their past challenges and hardships. This promotes a more empowering narrative that highlights each individual as more than just their refugee status.
Every person is not a mere subject, but an active narrator, contributing to a rich tapestry that reflects the reality of their lives, a reality that is often hidden or distorted in mainstream media portrayals.
My intention for this project is to provoke reflections on how these photographs offer a distinct perspective from the usual media depictions. I seek to encourage in the viewer a reevaluation of visual stereotypes about refugees and to reflect on how the concept of home transcends the boundaries of geography and culture, embodying a sense of belonging and identity that unites all humanity, regardless of their places of origin.
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Saad
Saad fled Syria, forced to leave behind his father’s farm and his family.
His great passion is cooking. Currently, he is working as a Chef de Partie in a restaurant located in Amsterdam. Saad is determined to build a bright future for himself, and his top priorities include his family and work. He aspires to keep working as a chef and fulfil his dream of owning a French restaurant someday.
Lilly
Lilly arrived in Viterbo from Romania on September 3, 2000, and was later joined by her husband and two children.
She currently works as a caregiver and cleaner and is very integrated into the Viterbo community, where she has also developed friendships with the daughters of her previous employers. Every morning and every evening, Lilly stops in church to say her prayers. “For me, there is only one God, and it doesn’t matter which church I am in.”
Olga
Olga escaped from Ukraine with her daughter. They live in the Netherlands now, where Olga has found work and feels safe. In her spare time, she has been creating beautiful paintings that each tell a unique story. These artworks not only help her process her emotions but also preserve the memories of her homeland.
Viktoriia
Viktoriia is a professional dancer and dance teacher from Ukraine. She moved to the Netherlands along with her mother and daughter. Dancing has been essential to her life since she was five years old. She resides in Haarlem and voluntarily teaches dance to her fellow Ukrainians in a facility adapted into a dance school. Her main objective is to obtain a job in her field of expertise.
Nour
Nour’s biggest passion is making and designing clothes. Currently, he works as a clothing maker alongside the designer Fares, who is teaching him the details of the craft.
After everything he has been through, Nour has learned the importance of what truly matters in life. Now, the most important things to him are his fiancé and family. Nour dreams of having his own house and a big family one day.
Amina
Amina, who is from Afghanistan, arrived in Italy in 2015 with her husband and their three children. She has a degree in medicine but has not yet been able to find work in her field. Currently, she works occasionally as a cultural mediator.
Here in Italy, with the support of her husband, Amina has been able to fulfil her dream: obtaining a driver’s license. Learning to drive was very important for her because driving represents freedom and autonomy. Her husband told her: “I want you to do here everything that women in our country cannot do due to cultural reasons.”
Valeriia
Valeriia, along with her daughter Masha, moved to the Netherlands from Ukraine. She currently works for a Dutch company while her daughter goes to school. Valeriia has a deep appreciation for Dutch culture, people, and politics that support Ukraine and Ukrainians. She is also happy to earn money to help her country. Valeriia hopes that the war will end soon and she looks forward to forming local friendships.
Lukusa
Lukusa, originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, has spent 35 years in Italy. Mother of two adult children, since 2012 she has been making her home in Viterbo, where she has long worked as a cultural mediator for Caritas Diocesana and the Alice Nova cooperative.
This work is fundamental for her, as it allows her to use her personal experience and the difficulties she faced in her studies and social life to help those arriving in Italy better understand the new system they find themselves in. As a cultural mediator, Lukusa aims to facilitate the path to inclusion, taking into account the traditions and ways of life of each person. She wants to raise awareness among those who have not lived through her experiences about the difficulties that can be encountered. Mutual understanding is essential for harmonious coexistence between different cultures.
Thank you to the Red Cross Netherlands, Haarlem For Ukraine and Acli Viterbo.
By connecting me with all these incredible human beings, they provided me with the support I needed to develop The Center Of The World.
The project is still ongoing