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This projects spring from an autobiographical experience and proposes an exploration of the migration issue through the stories of 32 subjects. Through them, I sought to analyze the complexity and heterogeneity of the phenomena and the experience of migration as well as the causes and the stages concerning the level of acculturation and adaptation. These aspects have a major influence on the individual’s mental health. Tension, stress, and the trauma of migration in combination with the discrepancy between expectations and reality, economic difficulties, discrimination, and racism are some of the factors that can affect the emotional stability of a human being. The abolition of one’s cultural identity presents in its own turn, a possible characteristic element of the migration experience. This follows the process of adjustment and acculturation and can create disturbances regarding one’s own identity and self-confidence. The vulnerability of an immigrant position is often established in the form of isolation from society and can be triggered by the mere exclusion of the individual from the community. In addition, the increasing number of women emigrants, which in most cases exceeds that of men, reveals that over the past few years the status of women has altered, leaving them to be the ones who leave in order to support and family. This phenomenon translates to the expansion of women’s autonomy and the transformation of traditional values. Interpersonal relations present another important aspect that is influenced by the migration experience. Moreover, family relationships often suffer a “fracture” or get “colder” when there is only one family member who migrates. The installation consists of two distinct forms of expression. The symbolic-visual form, which englobes the suitcases, inside of which are presented the portraits of the subjects who were interviewed, and the documentation form which can be found on a 5m long table. Underneath the glass surface of the table can be found hand-written confessions from each subject, forming a 10m long line of paper sheets filled with the subjects’ experiences. On the table’s surface, the case files of these individuals are carefully placed. This represents a symbolic element that depicts the sentiment of guilt or wrongdoing to which the migrants are subjected due to the image that the mass media creates based on sporadic instances that are later generalized. The result is none other than the creation of “tags” that are used to describe immigrants: thief, criminal, violent, etc. Meanwhile, inside the case file can be also found an official application form in which the immigrant is forced to fill in an unknown to his language in order to apply for a permit of residence; a not an easy task that results in stress, tension, and many hours of hostile attitude and unfairness. From this point of view, the project proposes a reflection on contemporary societies and an analysis of nationalist attitudes in a period of globalization.

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