Salford student photographs of refugees light up Manchester’s iconic buildings
Monday 10 October 2016
A photography student at The University of Salford, who fled Iraq with his children seven years ago, has photographs on display on iconic buildings across Manchester, as part of Journeys Festival International.
The huge images, taken by Jamal Jameel, depict what everyday life is like for refugees and asylum seekers who live in the city. They can be seen in locations such as the Central Library and the National Football Museum.
Jamal said: “I want the photography to give hope to other refugees and asylum seekers who are living in Manchester. I wanted the pictures to express real emotion and feeling. The photos are self-portraits. I let the families take the pictures with basic direction from me, because I wanted them to be as authentic as possible.
“Some of the refugee families that I met had shocking stories to tell. Each photo has a message, and I hope the project makes people aware of the experiences that some of these people have been through. I also hope that it will help integrate them more into society too”. 
Jamal studies BA (Hons) Photography, a course that is offered by The School of Arts and Media. He fled Iraq with his wife and two children in 2009, and came to this country to build a brighter future for his family.
Jamal said: “The project took about ten days to complete. One of the things I learnt on my course last year was portrait photography, so I was able to use this knowledge and direct the subject quite easily”.
Journeys Festival International, produced by cultural arts agency ArtReach, is a nationwide event that celebrates the artistic talents and incredible stories of refugee and asylum seeker artists, creating a positive interface with the community, through great art and culture.
Jamal’s photography is part of the Look Up project. The images can also be seen on the Contact Theatre, the Samuel Alexander Building, the Piccadilly war memorial and Affleck’s Place in the Northern Quarter until Wednesday 12th October.
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