Bruno Boudjelal — Mères d'exil

Exhibition 18 February to 28 May 2023
La Cité Miroir
Place Xavier Neujean 22, 4000 Liège

As part of the exhibition Mères d’exil, which gathers the works of thirty artists who worked on this theme, La Cité Miroir presents two series by Bruno Boudjelal, “Les paysages du départ”, and a continuous screening of his film “Harragas”.

Les paysages du départ

This series of photographies has been realised in the region of Annaba (city close to the Tunisian border) and in the area of Oran (city close to the Moroccan border). From these two regions, the Harragas mainly leave in an attempt to reach Europe on makeshift boats.

These landscapes are the places of their departure, an evocation of the last image remaining in the mind of those who leave their native country.

" ALGÉRIE, CLOS COMME ON FERME UN LIVRE ? " / 2009-2013

Harragas

“Harraga” is an Arabic word meaning “to burn”. It refers to young people who leave, who burn the road, trying to reach Europe.

Before taking the sea, the “harragas” ask Algerians living in Spain or Italy to send them Spanish or Italian SIM cards.

Once in possession of these SIM cards, they put them in their mobile phones before setting sail. This is how they will attempt to navigate their way through the crossing, checking their phones regularly to see if they have a connection and therefore know if they are getting closer to the Spanish or Italian coast.

The mobile phone therefore has a very important role and function when “harragas” try to cross the sea to Europe. But it also gives them the possibility to photograph and film their crossing. This allows them to retain a record of their adventures that they can show or share with the people back home.

It was by coincidence, thanks to a friend working in a youth association in Algeria called “RAJ”, that I learned about the existence of these little films that circulated in the country among the family or friends of those who had left to “burn the road”. Thanks to this friend, I was able to recover some of them.” – Bruno Boudjelal