Syrian artist and architect Mohamad Hafez and Iraqi writer and Wesleyan student Ahmed Badr collaborated on this refugee art project. Unpacked: Refugee Baggage uses ten suitcases to tell ten stories in an attempt to humanize the term 'refugee.' The multimedia art installation consists of suitcases that have been turned into the homes refugees left behind.
Buildings, homes, rooms and landscapes destroyed by war are recreated in miniature form. The voices of those who escaped from these real places -- people from Afghanistan, Congo, Iraq, Sudan and Syria -- are embedded into the luggage. Each of these stories involves building a new life in the United States. Short audio clips are played on headphones and longer stories can be read at the refugee art exhibit and online.
Suitcase Art Installations
This Multimedia Refugee Art Exhibit Uses Suitcases and Stories
Trend Themes
1. Multimedia Art Installations - Opportunity for disruptive innovation in creating immersive and interactive art experiences.
2. User-centered Storytelling - Potential for disruptive innovation in incorporating personal narratives and voices into art installations.
3. Humanizing Refugee Experiences - Potential for disruptive innovation in using art to raise awareness and empathy for refugee issues.
Industry Implications
1. Art and Design - Opportunity for the art industry to explore new forms of multimedia and immersive experiences.
2. Technology and Entertainment - Opportunity for the entertainment industry to collaborate with artists to create innovative storytelling experiences.
3. Social Activism and Advocacy - Opportunity for organizations and individuals to leverage art as a tool for raising awareness and promoting social change.