Indonesian Photographer Zooms In on European Refugee Crisis
Jakarta. Even though the upcoming Frankfurt Book Fair has yet to start, the German city has already witnessed a relative influx of Indonesians who have come to celebrate their country’s participation as guest of honor.
Documentary photographer Muhammad Fadli recently visited Frankfurt to showcase his photography series about Maluku’s Banda Islands in an exhibition entitled “Beyond Transisi,” ("Beyond Transition") which focuses its lens on Indonesian photographers.
But instead of making excursions to other advanced Western European countries in his subsequent travels, Fadli decided to go east to document the wave of refugees coming from conflict-ridden Middle Eastern countries, especially Syria.
“At first, I planned to go to Bosnia, also in the Balkan region, to photograph a totally different subject,” Fadli explained.
“But because of the rising tension, I feel there is an important story to be told about this refugee crisis, especially through my own eye as an Indonesian,” he added. “I’m also familiar with this region as I spent quite a long time traveling across Balkan countries two years ago.”
This time, Fadli’s journey was set against a darker backdrop. It is estimated that four million Syrians have been forced to flee their country since the beginning of the war in 2011. Many of these refugees are vying for a better life in Europe — mainly by crossing the Mediterranean Sea on small boats — despite looming uncertainty of whether these wealthier countries will open up their borders for them.
Fadli became a firsthand witness of their plight in Berkasovo, Serbia, a transit place of sorts for the refugees before continuing their journey to neighboring countries, such as Hungary and Croatia.
“This crisis is worse than we can imagine, and we’re talking about one of the worse refugee crises since World War II,” he explained. “And it is still far from over since there are still many incoming refugees. Not to mention, it’s going to be winter soon and I cannot imagine what will happen here.”
His emotional black-and-white photographs depict pivotal moments these displaced people must face in a foreign territory, from a line of refugees queuing up for a train ride to Hungary to a man in his wheelchair being assisted by volunteers.
The sense of suffering experienced by these refugees is most palpable in images portraying little children. In one of Fadli’s photographs, a girl is sitting on the shoulders of her forlorn father. In another, a man is holding his two daughters closely while walking in the middle of a cornfield.
Asked about the most indelible thing he had witnessed throughout this journey, Fadli explained that he was surprised to see how many people are striving to ensure the safety and well-being of these refugees.
“Volunteers from various humanitarian organizations are working around the clock to help them,” he said. “In Berkasovo, I have met volunteers from various European countries, migrant volunteers from Gaza who now stay in Serbia, Israeli volunteers, local communities and many others. They are all trying to help as best as they can.”
So far, Fadli has been posting his harrowing photographs on his own Instagram account for the world to see. Nevertheless, he expressed an interest to publish them somewhere else once there is a promising opportunity.
“This is a story that many people out there should know about,” he concluded.
— For more information on Muhammad Fadli, check out muhammadfadli.com and @mfimages on Instagram.
Tags: Keywords: