Rushdi Anwar | The Notion of Place and Displacement

8 – 24 June 2017

‘The Notion of Place and Displacement’ project explores issues of displacement due to socio-political persecution that aims to reveal the difficulties and suffering of individuals who have faced displacement and dislocation – manifesting a universal understanding for change, fragility and redemption.

Through this project I aim to address the catastrophe and the difficult reality of those individuals forced into displacement. However the project not only highlights the desperation and fragility of displaced individuals, it will also highlight their courage and compassion. Additionally, the project highlights the human condition, which when under difficult situations requires and seeks hope, renewal and light.

I worked inside several refugee camps in Kurdistan/Iraq. Since the current regional conflict began, approximately 1.5 million refugees have fled to Iraq’s Kurdistan region spread across many camps. Whilst in Kurdistan, I visited and stead in refugee camps to encounter with refugees from a diversity of backgrounds (e.g. Yazidi, Christiane, Arabs and Syrian). I aim to draw attention to the commonality of displacement and the daily living conditions inside the camps.

1-This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.
2-This project is supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.