You Can See Me, But I Don't Exist

Alan Gignoux

In the UK, people seeking asylum endure extended periods of uncertainty while awaiting a response to their applications. Unable to work, they may endure poverty or destitution, poor physical and mental health, and even internment in a detention centre. If their application is rejected, they must come to terms with not only the wasted years but also the frightening prospect of being forced to return to a country that they risked all to leave. Those who remain in the UK after their asylum application has been rejected face an insecure future, entirely dependent on the support of family, friends, and charitable organizations. Creating a visual metaphor for the corrosive impact of the asylum process on individuals, Alan Gignoux worked with a camera obscura using a long exposure to blur the identity of the refugees whom he photographed while leaving the background in focus. Seeking to include the refugees’ voices in the project, he invited the refugees to write a creative response to the blurred portraits in writing workshops.

Artist biography

Alan Gignoux is a documentary photographer and founder of Gignoux Photos, which produces documentary photography and film projects focussing on socio-political and environmental issues around the world.

Gignoux is committed to exposing the effects of displacement on communities around the world. His most exhibited body of work, Homeland Lost, juxtaposes portraits of Palestinian refugees with their former homes in Israel. He has been a regular visitor to the Saharawi refugee camps in Algeria, building relationships and recording camp life since 2005. His most recent Arts Council-funded project is
“You Can See Me, But I Don't Exist"

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4 October–17 November

Monday 09:00–17:30
Tuesday 09:00–17:30
Wednesday 09:00–17:30
Thursday 09:00–17:30
Friday 09:00–17:30

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You Can See Me, But I Don't Exist
Alan Gignoux

"You can see me, but I don't exist" a collaboration between Alan Gignoux, Refugees and Creative Writers. A body of work that was Intended for display in libraries and schools across the UK during Refugee Week 2023 and beyond to raise awareness of issues affecting asylum seekers. Produced by Gignouxphotos, funded by The Arts Council. Working in London, Manchester and Birmingham.

Birmingham, Camera Obscura, Photography Alan Gignoux, 2023. The project has been designed as an exhibition-in-a-book. It's presented in a binder with installation suggestions and can be returned to the binder to be experienced as a book.

Birmingham writing workshop.

Birmingham, Camera Obscura, Photography Alan Gignoux, 2023, The exhibition-in-a-book includes refugee portraits by Alan Gignoux, poems written by refugees in response to the portraits,

Birmingham writing workshop

"Our Youth Dying Like Dried Flowers" quote from the creative writing workshops. The book includes an introductory essay about the asylum process in the UK by policy researcher Woodren Brade.

Manchester Camera Obscura, Photography Alan Gignoux, 2023. In the UK, people seeking asylum similarly endure extended periods of uncertainty while awaiting a response to their applications. Unable to work, they may endure poverty or destitution, poor physical and mental health, and even internment in a detention centre

Manchester writing workshops

London Camera Obscura, Photography Alan Gignoux, 2023. To create a visual metaphor for the corrosive impact of the asylum process on individuals, Gignoux worked with a camera obscura using a long exposure to blur the identity of the refugees whom he photographed while leaving the background in focus.

London creative writing workshops.

"To Be Honest It's Been Lonely" quote from the creative writing workshops.

London, Camera Obscura, Photography, Alan Gignoux, 2023. If their application is rejected, they must come to terms with not only the wasted years but also the frightening prospect of being forced to return to a country that they risked all to leave.

London creative writing workshop.

London, Camera Obscura, Photography Alan Gignoux, 2023. Seeking to include the refugees’ voices in the project, he invited the people whom he photographed, as well as other refugees who wanted to participate, to write a creative response to the blurred portraits in writing workshops.

The book has 33 photos, 35 Poems and an A2 Fold out poster. Photographer Alan Gignoux, Essay Woodren Brade, Editor Ambrose Musiyiwa, Curator Jenny Christensson, Designer Emily Macaulay at Stanley James Press, Chloe Juno and Jenny.