If I Can Not Go There Then I Can Bring It Here

«At least 82.4 million people around the world have been forced to flee their homes. Among them are nearly 26.4 million refugees, around half of whom are under the age of 18. There are millions of stateless people, who have been denied a nationality and lack access to basic rights such as education, health care, employment and freedom of movement. Currently 1 in 95 people have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict or persecution.» The UN Refugee Agency

This is the story of one of those 26.4 million refugees. 10 years ago, I left my home country. And I am still not allowed to return. Since I can not go back, I decided to recreate my memories here, in Strasbourg. I am dedicating this project to all my relatives, to my childhood memories, to all familiar places I left behind.

The project was produced in the frame of the Online Art Residency Accompanied by a Long-term Mentorship Program & Production Grant for South Caucasian Women Photographers for the Year 4 of MagiC Carpets April-September 2021.

Mentored by Newsha Tavakolian/Magnum Photos.

The program supports the South Caucasian women photographers and visual artists to produce stories covering different issues in the region. 

The program was implemented by Tbilisi Photo Festival in a partnership with Tbilisi Photography & Multimedia Museum funded by MagiC Carpets, a Creative Europe Platform.