Rein Van der Sypt, Sea me

How can I develop a project that really benefits my subject?

How can photography truly empower and create a valuable experience in the first place?

What is my position in this interaction?

‘Sea me’ is a co-creation with refugee women I met in Athens, Greece. The focus is on ‘now’ and the future, who they are, how they see themselves and what they dream about. We use photography to bring attention to the things which bring joy and happiness, as an effort to be more present and take a break from heavy stress and daily worries.

The camera allows us to create a ‘nowtopia’, a space as good as possible, where we can be ourselves. It is a never-ending search for a non-existing place. But in this act of creating, we can be someone with an identity.