Photomonitor  review  05/06/17 by Erica Zimmermann 

“The destruction of the Calais ‘Jungle’ in October 2016, and the Dunkirk Grande-Synthe in April 2017, removed close to 10,000 people from the shelters and communities they had built up over preceding years. Despite the prominence of the camps in liberal and reactionary media alike, the fate of their one-time inhabitants is now slipping from public consciousness with all too predictable ease. In Transit, is pitched against precisely this collective amnesia. Bringing together some two hundred photographs, taken in the camps by Jacky Chapman and Janine Wiedel across 2016, the exhibition offers an urgent reminder of the destroyed sites’ existence, and a poignant testament to the people now moving ever more precariously to the edges of political agendas………….   (click image below to read)

Testimonials

‘In Transit provided us with a platform to engage student across the curriculum and wider cultural, social, global and most importantly humanitarian issues that are to often skewed by social media and the press. Jacky and Janine’s sensitive and extremely well observed photos engaged our students from Year 6 up to Year 13 into these wider global issues and our responsibilities.

The exhibition brings the migrant crisis literally to our doorstep, the powerful visuals evoke and provoke a reaction. These are insights and detail we are not used to seeing, the day to day living in the camps, the true reality of refugee’s situations. The exhibition opens the door to wider conversations and deeper understanding and empathy.  As well as invaluable educational stimulus across many subject areas (Geography, History, PSHE, RT, Art, Architecture, English) it teaches our students about their place in the world to make positive change……’Sue Mulholland,  Director of Art, Dulwich College

 

‘A moving and beautiful exhibition with stories of hope and resilience – and tragedy: that human beings are in such conditions …’   Lorna Edwards, Family and Systemic Psychotherapist

‘Thank you Jacky and Janine………for your moving and thought-provoking photos! You managed to capture some of the day to day life, fight for survival and the colours and vibrancy of humanity. I really believe seeing this changes people’s perception and challenges attitudes towards people running away from the conflict hoping for a better life!’  Berni George, Graphic Designer, IHQ/Programme Resources

“A powerful exhibition. The humanity behind the statistics, the reality of life in the camps. Thank you for taking the time to show these images. It’s difficult for people to understand what happens outside of the TV stories. Beautiful work in a very difficult place”   London

‘Our world today, supposedly civilised, should not be home to this type of destitution while others live extravagantly. God help us!’  NYC

‘Thank you for sharing these photographs. We are all first human, we should never forget those who are vulnerable through avoidable conflict’  Berkshire

‘Wonderful to see your work. Having visited the Dunkirk site a few days before they were all moved to the MSF camp, your photos brought back vivid memories. I vowed that day that I would never complain about my life again. We are all so luck’  Neil Whiteside (Cambridge 105 Radio)

‘Brilliant Exhibition and unbelievably moving’  London

‘Great exhibition. God speed all the people in these photos to a better, safer life. From someone already lucky enough to live and work in London’  London

‘Brilliant but harrowing. What a world we live in. There is happiness even though this is such a cruel world’  London

‘Beautifully constructed – educational and heartbreaking. Thank you’

‘Very sobering. What an indictment of ‘civilized’ society’

‘Excellent document! Really eye opening to see the true reality of how refugees live’ South Africa

‘Brilliant photos and sculptures, but really upsetting. I despair of all this’  London

‘Difficult to write when one is so moved! Wonderful exhibition that demonstrates undiminished hope in the face of indifference by the rest of the world’

‘Very moving looking at the faces and the desperate optimism. I would give them a home tomorrow if I could. My prayer is that they all get a home and security for the future. God bless them all’