Waving Spaces Together: The use of photography to produce narratives of proximity

Abstract

This presentation aims to explore the intersection between migration and photography, tackling two essential questions: How do migrants grapple with their emotions of displacement and settlement through photography? And, how are these coping strategies visually constructed in contemporary photographic projects? Through an analysis of diverse photographic projects, including "Belonging" (Frey, 2022) and "Traces of Brazil" (Frey, 2023), this presentation unravels the intricate ways in which migrant photography weaves together spaces and people across the globe. By closely examining these projects, the goal is to comprehend the visual narratives that emerge and the insights they provide into the migrant experience. Furthermore, this presentation seeks to explore the role of photography in the process of homemaking among migrants. Migrant photography, exemplified in projects like "Belonging" and "Traces of Brazil," congregates in both close and remote spaces, forming a non-physical and internalised territory. This intermediary space, situated between dislocation and settlement and facilitated by photography, becomes a potent mechanism for fostering a sense of belonging. Interestingly, this sense of belonging is not confined to a specific geographic space. Instead, photography, as a medium, offers a means to stand in an interim space of settlement and familiarity, enabling individuals to establish a connection with a sense of place that transcends physical boundaries. In exploring into these dynamics, this presentation aspires to contribute to on-going debates regarding the use of contemporary photography as a tool for producing and disseminating migrant narratives. The aim is to explore the potential of migrant media within interdisciplinary contexts, particularly in terms of dislocation and displacement. Through this exploration, I seek to better understand Pierre Bourdieu's notion of habitus clivé [cleft habitus] as an internal contradiction and subjective division acquired as individuals move from one social context to another. In conclusion, this presentation aims to shed light on the ways in which photography can display the complex experiences of migrants, offering a different perspective on the intersection of identity, belonging, memory and settlement.