Maya Ersan, Jaimie Robson Bring 鈥楽hadows Without Borders鈥 to Surrey Art Gallery
A performance of a Mere Phantoms Shadows Without Borders work, from 2018. (Photo by Leila Shifteh and Harun Yasin Tuna / courtesy Mere Phantoms + Surrey Art Gallery)
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The artists, known collectively as Mere Phantoms, took their mobile shadow installation to refugee camps in Athens and Istanbul.
An interactive shadow installation that travelled to refugee communities in Europe and Asia is currently on view at the Surrey Art Gallery.
Titled , the show spotlights the work of artists Maya Ersan (BFA 2004) and Jaimie Robson (BFA 2002), collectively known as . The pair鈥檚 was first created in 2018, touring 鈥渞efugee camps, squats and settlements鈥 in Athens and Istanbul.
鈥淭he initial idea came from the outbreak of the Syrian civil war,鈥 Maya says in a statement. 鈥淗aving grown up in Turkey and Cyprus, I was very familiar with the aftermath of such events. Jaimie and I wanted to do something that could make a difference in our own small way with our unique tool set, which was to bring shadow play to vulnerable and displaced families.鈥
Mere Phantoms began by working with partners in both Athens and Istanbul, eventually developing a mobile installation consisting of a 12 x 12鈥 shadow-projection tent; intricate paper cutouts; battery-operated shadow lamps; a battery-operated sound system; and materials for making additional cutouts. Using this adaptable set-up, the pair led paper-cutting and shadow workshops and play sessions with children and families in refugee communities.
A workshop participants creates paper cutouts. (Image courtesy Mere Phantoms + Surrey Art Gallery)
During the project鈥檚 first phase, Mere Phantoms led paper-cutting workshops during the day, providing tools, materials and guidance. In the evenings, participants would gather for shadow-play using their newly created cutouts.
鈥淭his project is humble in its ambitions,鈥 Mere Phantoms on their website. 鈥淚t does not endeavour to document or record or even solicit personal stories. Instead it offers a creative play space in which humour, sadness, joy, and creativity can be expressed. It offers a momentary pause from daily life in a temporary home. Ultimately this piece is about play. Participants were invited to pick up a shadow lamp, make a paper cutout, and immerse themselves in this ephemeral world of shadow and light.鈥
Some of the work created with participants throughout this project is included in the Surrey Art Gallery exhibition. A shadow-projection tent and custom-made flashlights are also on view. A series of photographs from a night of shadow-play in Athens is part of the exhibition as well, as is a seven-minute video documenting the project. The photographs and video were created in collaboration with filmmakers Leila Shifteh and Harun Yasin Tuna. Maya and Jaimie have also created new paper-cut tableaus, which are being exhibited for the first time.
Artists Jaimie Robson (left) and Maya Ersan (right). (Photo by Mario Pierre / courtesy Mere Phantoms + Surrey Art Gallery)
Mere Phantoms thanks their partners Khora (Athens), Project Elea (Athens), Atta Festival (Istanbul) and ASAM (Association for Solidarity with Asylum Seekers and Migrants) (Istanbul). Mere Phantoms: Shadows Without Borders received funding through the Canada Council for the Arts鈥 New Chapter program. Mere Phantoms: Shadows Without Borders was curated by the Surrey Art Gallery鈥檚 curator of exhibitions and collections, Jordan Strom.
to learn more about Shadows Without Borders as well as their other extraordinary projects.