This past weekend, I went to the Museum of Modern Art to see Bouchra Khalili’s The Mapping Journey Project. The piece consists of eight videos that tell the story of eight individuals fleeing violence and persecution, who each trace their migration throughout Europe, North Africa, and/or the Middle East. The videos are static shots of a map of the region, with the migrants hand tracing his or her journey to safety and security.

Although the museum was very crowded, I was able to feel an intimacy with the work. I liked that each screen was pared with bench space and headphones for only three people. Even though the exhibition occupied the sprawling and wide open Marron Atrium, each screen setup felt closed off and intimate. Perhaps this intimacy was also encouraged by the focused nature of the videos. The camera stays focused on the map and the video is entirely led by the refugee who is telling their story.

As has been the case with many of the films we’ve seen in class this semester, I found myself ‘digging into’ the experience and viewing the videos in a trance like, focused state. The stories that were told were incredibly inspirational and tragic. The simplicity and uniformity of the delivery communicates a solemnity that is felt for each video. Although each story is remarkable, and the journeys in some cases span many years, the videos only last a few minutes and the narrative is condensed to logistical matters, with a casual anecdote thrown in every now and again. I am curious to know what kind of direction Khalili gave to her subjects to result in such a uniform product. Perhaps no instructions were given, and each subject responded in the same way due to the similar circumstances they were faced with. Either way, the uniformity helps to unite the eight stories, and orient the viewer to the migrants experience. Presenting these stories with the geography that has been traveled is even more of an eye opener. The shockingly long, arduous journeys that are mapped out in each video are juxtaposed with the travelers narration, which is a very striking way to hear to hear their stories.

I found Khalili’s work to be very moving and engaging. Often in news coverage of the refugee crisis, the sheer volume of refugees can make the problem seem very far away. It is both refreshing and harrowing to hear real, matter of fact, unsentimental stories from the refugees themselves.