DOUBLE VISIONs

DOUBLE VISIONs is an exhibition comprising of 12 pairs of glasses suspended on 12 stainless steel bars. Trapped within each lens are tears collected from Refugees and “unclassified people” within Europe. Each pair balances on the yellow pages of the state form used to define whether one is a “legitimate” Refugee. The isolated tears present the performance of trauma needed to obtain the status of “Refugee” in Europe. The cliché of “seeing through someone else’s eyes” becomes a standard that must be met in order to legitimise the Refugee. Creating a portrait of state classification, and centralised systems, the installation forms a physically enclosed European flag. The manufacturing and collection of tears took place over two years with Refugees throughout Europe. (Images Below)

DOUBLE VISIONs was first exhibited at Platform Arts Gallery, Belfast. It sent an installation two years in the making into the world for the first time, along with four large prints suspended at eye level. Each print documents the process of the collection of the tears over the two year period within seen and unseen, refugee communities. Each are printed on the waterproof, banner material that cover the articulated trucks that are often used by refugees to enter, and exit international borders. The exhibition was opened with a short talk from Kevin, and Refugee, Author, and participant Joe Odiboh. (Images of the opening and poster below)

Joe Odiboh speaking at the opening of DOUBLE VISIONs at Platform Arts Gallery in Belfast