Project Details
Description
This is an ongoing project which examines the migrant experience, in particular the use of video calls to connect to family and loved ones in a different country.
The work started during the Covid19 Pandemic. I was unable to leave England to be with my family in Bulgaria. The only way I could photograph my family was through taking Screenshots of our video calls.
Video calls for migrants away from family are a way to cope with homesickness and missing relatives and loved ones. Video calls are a way to bridge the gap in geographical distance, feel closeness and care, familiarity, and comfort. The work investigates the migrants experience in the context of the Covid19 Pandemic and multiple Lockdowns the whole World experienced with restrictions to travel worldwide. This caused forced separation of people where many of us were unable to physically visit and be with our families.
This enforced distance allowed many people to get a glimpse of what migrants feel not being able to be with loved ones. Deprived of the emotional warmth and sensory experience of being physically together with your loved ones. The distance and digital intervention of the phone as device of access, changes the way people interact and the things they talk about. Especially with the older generation who are used to face to face competition, only opening up when physically together. It's hard recreating that closeness and connection through the video calls.
Even though the work started due to the Pandemic, the research looks at the wider migrant experience of separation from home, family and community and focuses on the video call as a source of connection and means to record family photographs. A new type of Family Snaps.
The work started during the Covid19 Pandemic. I was unable to leave England to be with my family in Bulgaria. The only way I could photograph my family was through taking Screenshots of our video calls.
Video calls for migrants away from family are a way to cope with homesickness and missing relatives and loved ones. Video calls are a way to bridge the gap in geographical distance, feel closeness and care, familiarity, and comfort. The work investigates the migrants experience in the context of the Covid19 Pandemic and multiple Lockdowns the whole World experienced with restrictions to travel worldwide. This caused forced separation of people where many of us were unable to physically visit and be with our families.
This enforced distance allowed many people to get a glimpse of what migrants feel not being able to be with loved ones. Deprived of the emotional warmth and sensory experience of being physically together with your loved ones. The distance and digital intervention of the phone as device of access, changes the way people interact and the things they talk about. Especially with the older generation who are used to face to face competition, only opening up when physically together. It's hard recreating that closeness and connection through the video calls.
Even though the work started due to the Pandemic, the research looks at the wider migrant experience of separation from home, family and community and focuses on the video call as a source of connection and means to record family photographs. A new type of Family Snaps.
Layperson's description
This is an ongoing project which examines the migrant experience, in particular the use of video calls to connect to family and loved ones in a different country.
The work started during the Covid19 Pandemic. I was unable to leave England to be with my family in Bulgaria. The only way I could photograph my family was through taking Screenshots of our video calls. Even though the work started due to the Pandemic, the research looks at the wider migrant experience of separation from home, family and community and focuses on the video call as a source of connection and means to record family photographs. A new type of Family Snaps.
The work started during the Covid19 Pandemic. I was unable to leave England to be with my family in Bulgaria. The only way I could photograph my family was through taking Screenshots of our video calls. Even though the work started due to the Pandemic, the research looks at the wider migrant experience of separation from home, family and community and focuses on the video call as a source of connection and means to record family photographs. A new type of Family Snaps.
| Status | Active |
|---|---|
| Effective start/end date | 20/03/20 → … |