“The images of Team Refugee at the Olympics offers a glimmer of hope in a gloomy summer.” When I read these words by Isobel Harbinson, a London based writer and curator, I had an instantaneously cynical reaction; “Woman, what are you thinking?” Yes, Thomas Bach, president of the IOC put up some $2 million last summer with the help of mostly European national Olympic committees to make this happen. Yes, a 10 member strong team, culled from 1000 applicants, walked the opening in Rio and is now competing.

What glimmer of hope, though? That the refugee crisis can be solved by looking at these athletes, each and every one with a tragic history of loss and displacement? That hearts will be softened by seeing them compete? That the political and economic forces behind the wars will stop when seeing a united melange of nationalities? Syria, South Sudan, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo are for a short time represented. Haven’t we always had double standards for high performing athletes and the refugee we fear and loathe next door? (In fact today’s head montage, from my Refugees’ Dreams series tackled that point – the soccer players are the ones that have a chance of penetrating Fortress Europe.)

I finished reading Harbinson’s article and was again wondering:”Woman, what are you thinking?” But now addressed at myself. There is need for optimism in this world, a need to see a chance for change in small events, a need for people like her who can still dream, not old curmudgeons like me who feel so thoroughly disillusioned. Here is a link to her writing – judge for yourself.  https://frieze.com/article/more-game And here another positive voice: http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/08/refugee-olympic-team-rio/494969/

The Refugees’ Dreams series, by the way, will see the light of day in February 2017, at the Cameraworks Gallery in town. I am thrilled that my attempts to show their suffering and the commonalities between “us and them,” the longing for peace, safety, a home, will be exhibited in a solo show that has enough room for many of the montages.