* Inspiration for this installation came from an article in the Medium, titled
WHAT’S IN MY BAG? What refugees bring when they run for their lives – See below
First person narratives from the article were read and recorded by the artist and played back on the small, round gray speaker. Printed photographs from the article were laid out around the podium to ‘anchor’ the words of those refugees…
Things similar to those in the chosen photo (below) were collected, 3D scanned, scale reduced, and 3D printed – small enough to fit in the palm of one hand…
Excerpt from the article in the Medium, titled WHAT’S IN MY BAG? What refugees bring when they run for their lives
A mother
Name: Aboessa*
Age: 20
From: Damascus, Syria
Photo: Tyler Jump/IRC
When vicious fighting erupted in Yarmouk, an unofficial camp for Palestinians just south of the Syrian capital, Aboessa managed to escape with her husband and their 10-month-old daughter, Doua. After crossing the border to Turkey, they spent one week sheltering in another forlorn camp before jumping into a rubber raft bound for the safe shores of Europe.
The Turkish police patrolling the coast stopped them and detached the boat’s motor in order to force them to turn back, but the refugees kept going, steering the boat through the sea’s strong currents with makeshift paddles.
Photo: Tyler Jump/IRC
Hat for the baby
An assortment of medication, a bottle of sterile water, and a jar of baby food
A small supply of napkins for diaper changes
A hat and a pair of socks for the baby
Assortment of pain relievers, sunscreen and sunburn ointment, toothpaste
Personal documents (including the baby’s vaccination history)
Wallet (with photo ID and money)
Cell phone charger
Yellow headband
“Everything is for my daughter to protect her against sickness. When we arrived in Greece, a kind man gave me two jars of food. Another man gave us biscuits and water when he saw my baby.”
CARRY, ONLY WHAT YOU CAN…
