We have all experienced ‘displacement’ from the moment we left the womb.  We are constantly in search for that place of comfort in life.  This place of comfort can be found by the purpose, goal, and belief we adopt in our lives.  Those who are free enough to choose a direction in life are privileged; those who are forcibly prohibited, with little choice, are prisoners; and those with no choice are displaced.  However, displacement can only truly occur [temporarily] in our thoughts.  It is therefore imperative to keep our thoughts stimulated and our bodies frequently active in search of that place of comfort.  Asylum seekers are unfortunate prisoners, isolated in our often brutal and corrupt society with few choices (many of which are enforced), and few opportunities to seek that place of comfort.

Immobility and imprisonment are key issues when working with asylum seekers and refugees residing in Ireland.  Asylum seekers tend to suffer from high levels of boredom, depression, and lack of motivation, often resulting in suicide.  They are not permitted to work in Ireland, and suffer from lack of integration with, and fear of, the unknown local people.  The asylum seekers just “wait”.  Wait for status, or wait to be recognized where their futures are unknown; are they to be deported back to a war torn country, and face imprisonment and torture for fleeing in the first place, as reports suggest.  My art workshops are flexible and very expansive, but are often used as a basic distraction to people in exile.  They also offer a purpose and a possible place of comfort for those who wish to partake.

The performance art-piece I propose offers asylum seekers the opportunity to engage and integrate with the community of Milton Keynes.  The participating asylum seeker is encouraged to offer the passer-by on the street the opportunity to take a passport photograph of them using a Polaroid camera with the intention of a conversation developing.  The conversation is not contrived, and is based solely on the asylum seekers desire and need to interact and talk with the locals.  The participating asylum seeker will offer the developed passport photograph of him/her self to the passer-by as a symbol of acknowledgement and gratitude for the conversation.  I am a privileged Irish passport holder, whereby this passport- photograph- conversation is symbolic of my own mobility and identity worldwide.

“I want to show people that asylum seekers are human beings with the same feelings and dreams as everyone else.  People don’t seek asylum unless they have to – leaving home, family and friends and embarking on a journey to the unknown under difficult and dangerous conditions is not easy.  I have heard people say asylum seekers are criminal parasites and some even call them ‘a threat to our future’, but I hope people realise that asylum seekers want to be active, responsible and self- reliant members of society and that demonization is not helpful.”

Mohammad Razai, Interviewed by Kate Kellaway, Pg 14, The Observer; 20^th June 2010.