People On The Move Representation In Art Documentaries
People On The Move Representation In Art Documentaries

Author(s): Neda Mohamadi
Subject(s): Film / Cinema / Cinematography, Migration Studies
Published by: Transnational Press London
Keywords: art documentary; internationally; renowned Chinese artist; Ai Weiwei; migration crisis; migrants;
Summary/Abstract: Human Flow, an art documentary by the internationally renowned Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, offers a widely seen example of the role of the artist as a witness to the current migration crisis. This paper analyses how state-seeking can be studied in the context of migration through the concept of representation and reality in an art documentary. I consider how Ai Weiwei’s film represents the lives of undocumented migrants and then expand the discussion through two contrasting interviews with other artists making work on the same issues, asking them about their opinions, attitudes and approaches to state-seeking. The main aim of this paper is to re-assess the role of art and consider whether its representations can raise greater awareness of the political and social changes which are needed to support migrants.

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