An exhibition showcased this week as part of the Bloody Sunday Trust's week of events leading up to the 51st anniversary of Bloody Sunday highlights the global connection of border communities.
The Bloody Sunday Trust hosted Monica Lozano, whose debut Irish exhibition "What Remains" documents the dire conditions of immigrants, displaced people, refugees and asylum seekers in a poignant, elegant yet socially charged series of photographs from borders around the world.
Monica met members of Arts Everywhere and the Bloody Sunday Trust while showcasing her exhibition in Madrid and discussed the connections between global struggles of border communities.
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The Bloody Sunday Trust's programme this year revolves around "One World One Struggle" and Monica's exhibition exemplifies that.
Speaking to MyDerry ahead of the exhibition launch in the Holywell Trust building, Bishop Street, Monica spoke of the importance in highlighting these global links.
She said: "I did this border series in 2008 in Madrid, Spain. I made a connection with the immigrant population from Africa and saw many mirrors that connected what I had seen when I grew up.
"I met some people from Arts Everywhere and from Derry, we visited the border at El Paso and we found many connections in our own border communities between Derry and El Paso which was very interesting and I then got invited here to discuss the similarities.
"I do believe it is one struggle, the struggle of the borders themselves, the struggle of worldwide borders. There are many types of borders and I feel what connects them is a separation which is anti-natural and destructive.
"For me it is like cutting a body in half, it cannot function the same. There are many similarities in the issues faced on the border here during the Troubles and the struggles in the US- Mexico border today.
"The strongest feeling for me is the fact that it takes so much courage to cross to take this journey for these brave and honourable people who are looking for a better life who sometimes do not have a choice and the most common reason they leave is for their children to survive and have a better life.
"Once they cross this horrific journey as an illegal immigrant there are still many invisible borders inside of the country that they need to cross. The invisible borders of trust and belonging.
"I am very grateful to the Bloody Sunday Trust and Arts Everywhere for inviting me here to share this project."
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