Now you see me Moria was initiated in August 2020 by Amir, a young Afghan refugee, and Noemì, a Spanish image editor who lives and works in the Netherlands. In an effort to make people in Europe aware of the inhumane situation in Moria, they launched an Instagram account sharing photos and stories about daily life in the Moria migrant and refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos.
What makes these photos special is that they were taken by Amir, a refugee himself and stuck in Moria for a year. In co-authorship with Noemì, Ali and Mustafa from Afghanistan and Qutaeba from Syria, refugees also residing in Moria, he records life there. Like no others, these photographers are capable of portraying the intimate everyday world of the residents because they themselves are part of it. Many photos are made from a cell phone. For safety reasons the refugees are not recognizable on the pictures. Even though the photos are not always perfectly framed, their strength lies in their authenticity and directness.
The exhibition is open at CIVA Brussels from 9 July to 8 August 2021. Entrance is free, but requires registration. For more information, see CIVA’s website.