As part of the launch of ‘Trans national Communities: towards a sense of belonging’ (AHRC funded project that seeks to develop and sustain the ‘making connections: arts, migration and Diaspora network))   John Perivolaris  walked with Thaer Ali and this is  an account of the walk in images and words.

John Perivolaris (Image makers sub-group) works with Emmanuel Chagunda - more information click here

John Perivolaris' exciting  new project 'Left Luggage' emerges from 'Objects of Migration'.  -

About Left Luggage

An empty suitcase lent for a month each to a series of collaborators. Each one fills the suitcase with objects of their choice and according to the project’s key terms. These are:

• Homeland
• Journey
• Arrival
• Destination

The idea for the project was sparked when my mother gave me my grandfather’s monogrammed, leather suitcase. For several months it sat empty on the floor by my desk like an absent presence by my side.

I knew that the suitcase had travelled around the world with my grandfather, who was a sea captain with the Greek merchant navy. Why should it not continue on its travels as a tribute to the memory of Captain John Perivolaris, whose birthday was on the same date as mine?

Left Luggage is the work of John Perivolaris, an independent documentarian and photographic gadfly. 

If you would like to participate in Left Luggage, please contact John Perivolaris (john.perivolaris@ntlworld.com) and for more information click here.

In a further engagement with the topics raised at  Making the Connections, the first meeting of the Arts, Diaspora and Migration Network (Leicester,
26th April), John Perivolaris formed an image-makers' sub-group to explore ways of promoting integration, understanding, and participation through
visual arts projects that creatively address issues of diaspora and migration in collaboration with migrants' groups. The sub-group  involve's
interested migrants' groups and image-makers working in traditional or digital media, such as, among others, design, film-making, painting,
photography, web-based arts, and installation/performance art involving visual media. The sub-group aims to serve as a forum to discuss new work produced by its members, best practice, and ethical questions, as well as providing a platform from which new projects might be launched and funding might be sought for these. If you are interested in getting involved please contact John Perivolaris (john.perivolaris@ntlworld.com) (www.JohnPerivolarisimages.com )

Maggy Milner is a photographer and member of the image makers sub-group. Maggy worked with Maggie O'Neill and Bea Tobolewska on the Global Refugees Research Project. See Galleries Link, and for more of her work click on the following link - Maggy Milner photographer