Katelyn Curtis Post 2

Gideon Mendel

Dzhangal

                   ALL THE THINGS REFUGEES LEFT BEHIND, IN PHOTOS

By: Katelyn Curtis

  

                                       

                           

                            

          Gideon Mendel is a South African photographer who decided to document refugees that had fled to Calais, France to seek shelter and to obtain a sense of safety. Originally, Mendel took photos of the refugees, tried to empower them by doing so, and even gave them photos to document their daily lives. Over time though, he realized that "many were wary of drawing attention to themselves in a time of uncertainty. They were frightened" and realized that his approach was entirely wrong and went back to the board.

          During his time there he had slowly started collecting objects that were left behind, more so as to bear witness at what he was experiencing first hand with the people that were surrounding him. He had collected an assortment of objects that ranged from "toys, clothing, toiletries, and even tear gas canisters used by the police". By the end of October  2016, the French authorities cleared and demolished the camp.  Mendel decided through his time there that the story was within the objects. The objects were personal, gripping, but yet we couldn't connect them to any one individual, the story within.