Jungleye at Lille's MP

The association Jungleye has launched a participatory photography project, initiated in November 2015 by photographer Séverine Sajous, in the Calais refugee camp in France, known as the "Jungle." Through playful photography learning, the migrants "reveal" their own experiences.

Jungleye, a look at migration

From these images — at once touching, harsh, amusing, even comical — postcards are produced, each captioned by its photographer. This double narration allows them, at least a little, to release their emotions and to reveal the marginalised gaze they bring to the world. This "migratory" medium takes some of the drama out of exile by giving it an ironic "tourist" touch. The postcards, nicknamed "Wish we weren't here," recreate a visual memory of the Journey of their lives. In a socio-political context sensitive to migration issues, these cards offer a first step towards the Other, at a distance — much like correspondence.

In February, Jungleye migrated from Calais to the Zweibrücken refugee camp in Germany. The postcards produced there echo those "made in jungle": here, "We have lot of work," "We are warm." A dialogue between people — whether in migration or not — is taking shape through postcards. That's why Jungleye wishes to keep tracing — "in reverse" — this transitive memory of exile, from Europe back to the countries of origin, and thereby sketch the evolution of hopes, expectations, frustrations, and imaginaries in (de)construction.

Jungleye at the MP, in practice

From 18 March 2016 to 24 April 2016. Maison de la photographie — 28 Rue Pierre Legrand, 59800 Lille, France. Thursday and Friday, 10am to 6pm; Saturday and Sunday, 2pm to 6pm.