Saturday, January 23, 2016

Refugees from the Croatian population

Recently, I came across the book "Migrations." In it is a multitude of photographs depicting the human exodus world wide. Salgado has spent his professional career focused on different aspects of the earth starting with "Workers" then "Exodus" and "Genesis" is his most recent topic. Migrations is centered in his exodus campaign. As with all of his works, countless years, miles of travel, and photographs were taken to make is art as persuasive as possible. My favorite photograph was titled, "Refugees from the Croatian population."
Refugees of the Croatian population, Serbia, 1995 | From the book ‘Migrations’ (2000): ‘In recent decades, hundreds of millions of people across the globe have been uprooted from their homes by poverty, wars and repression. Some flee to save their lives; others risk their lives to escape destitution. Most end up in refugee camps or in the slums of Third World cities; a lucky few find a better life in an affluent country far from their own. All in their different ways are at the mercy of economic and political forces beyond their control.’
The 1990's was not a safe era to be a Croatian. Due to much political strife caused from a push for independence by the leader of Croatia against the Serb population of Yugoslavia, A war broke out over who would control Krajina, a land that is thought to belong to multiple nations. When a peace offering was rejected by the Krajina Serbs, a war broke out and the result was thousands of Serbs fleeing during the middle of the war. ("History of Croatia"). this picture was taken by Salgado and is evidence of the dangers faced by the refugees (Salgado). 

I am deeply affected by this as I have been by many of the other refugee photos that I have witnessed. It causes me great concern that these "innocent civilians," as Salgado labels them, have to face such danger to be safe. Their goal is to make it to a better land where peace resides but the reality of that for them is grim. They like a herd of cows, really believe that the grass is greener on the other side but, like the cows, the fence to get to the other side is usually impossible to cross.

“Brief History of Croatia Serb Krajina Region”. Dalje.com. Kontineo. 11March 2008. Web. 6 February 2013.
Salgado, Sebastiao. Migrations: Humanity in Transition. Pamphlet. New York: Aperture Foundation, Inc., 2000. 22-94. Print
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2 comments:

  1. EmilyJanuary 23, 2016 at 8:05 PM

    The saying, "The grass is always greener on the other side", is a perfect way to describe refugees. They leave their war torn "pastures" full of hope that the next field over will be full of life-sustaining grass. And just like you said, the fence is often impossible to cross. Migrants and refugees have to get through all sorts of dangerous obstacles on the way to the new "pasture": life-taking waves, patrolled walls, and unwelcoming natives. Unfortunately, their destination, crowded camps or foreign cities, is rarely much better than the "pasture" they came from. I feel that the saying is supposed to teach us to be grateful for what we have, but when we apply it to the refugees, it takes on a whole new twist. For them, neither field is a very good option.
    Thank you for the metaphor. It really made me think.

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  2. Rawly LyleJanuary 23, 2016 at 8:08 PM

    Powerful picture, I agree that it is incredible to think that people just like you and me have to face such tribulations just because of a racial/religious prejudice. I agree that they must believe that the grass is greener on the other side, but I would argue as well that not only is the fence impossible to cross, but that there are others on the other side too greedy to give the grass to the new cows.

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