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Alternative Geography

​Mixed Media Photography

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War has intensified discussions around migration and the quest for a better life, as communities are dismantled and new ones emerge elsewhere.

 

Even during the pandemic, the question of where to live took on new significance, with many trading apartment living for houses with gardens, seeking outdoor space during lockdown. City-to-suburb migration surged as private homes became prized. But in wartime, this shifted: private houses became targets, eroding people’s sense of security and driving them to seek refuge, whether in cities or new lands where they wouldn’t need to flee or hide.

The question of where to live has lingered over time, a challenge brimming with hopes and trials.

In the series Alternative Geography, color becomes a language of resilience and dreams. I photograph objects, deconstruct and reassemble them into new forms, crafting visual worlds that evoke gatherings and imagined communities. These images reflect both the fragmentation and rebuilding of communities, embodying a search for belonging or the promise of a new home.

These works reimagine places not as typical houses but as structures made of fragments. Some are enclosed by fences, delineating zones of safety, while vibrant colors uplift, renew hope, and celebrate the beauty of revitalized life. At the same time, I aim to capture the contrast between the liveliness of these images and the sorrow that underpins this work.

© 2024 All rights reserved Michelle Medenblik

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