This body of work explores the themes of memory, immigration, and displacement through a reimagined approach to still life. The project stems from extensive research in both art history and botany, complemented by fieldwork with refugees from the region spanning Southwest Asia to North Africa, historically known as the “Orient.”
The photographic series centers on items selected by participants, captured in the studio. In addition to personal belongings, the works incorporate intangible elements tied to their memories—such as scents and tastes—embodied in ingredients from family recipes passed down through generations. Each photograph, rooted in the geography of a specific location, serves as a portrait that reflects the migration stories of the participants.
By reversing the tradition of “Oriental” immigrants placing their personal objects within a Western visual framework, the still life photographs offer a reinterpretation of the genre. This act of re-appropriation engages with a decolonial perspective, challenging the historical narrative and reframing the still life as a space for cultural reflection.
