Paper short abstract:

not used

Paper long abstract:

I will use the photography of two young Iraqi asylum seekers as a mirror in which we can clearly read the problem of reconciling the expectations of a country and the realities one finds upon arrival. An important process of auto-ethnographic work is conveyed through their lens and it is one that I would like to explore in this paper with regards to traditionally anticipated ideas of refugee and asylum seeker's experiences.

The road to safety is often long and dangerous and for young people undertaking such travels, there is little realization of what lies ahead except that it must be something 'better'. Realities of legal issues, social services, as well as the negative views many people in Britain attach to the words 'refugee' or 'asylum seeker' are all obstacles to confront upon arrival. However, more unexpected are the mixed feelings one faces regarding those who remain 'back home' - sporadic correspondence with family in war zones is hardly a place to complain about the realities of life in the UK, rather, it is through these conversations that myths are often propagated, through the simple assurance that 'everything is fine'.

A strong sense of duality pervades the work of these two 18 year old photographers, who arrived in London in 2006. They explore their new home in relation to the home left behind, they photograph their daily realities and illustrate through this process their need to recreate the idea of belonging and to project their findings back to others.

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