El Dorado by Melissa Arras

A collection of works by London-based photographer Melissa Arras.

The film is a poetic and emotional exploration of the daily plight of refugees and migrants in the makeshift camp in Calais, powerfully portraying the strength and perseverance of people struggling to find safety after a dangerous journey to the northern coast of France. Over a two-year period, between November 2014 and December 2016, Melissa took photographs documenting the arrival of refugees and migrants in the northern French city of Calais, with the ultimate aim of reaching the UK. The crisis continues, with between 300 and 600 migrants gathered in a temporary camp here, close to the narrowest part of the English Channel (separating mainland Europe from the UK).

The camp is truly an in-between place, where life is suspended while people seek protection and await bureaucratic approval to continue their journey in a legal sense. The settlements are under constant threat of destruction by the French authorities, and violent encounters with the police have generated ongoing struggles in Calais. In this film, Mélissa challenges common perceptions of refugees and migrants by looking at intimate moments after trust is established. This is a response to the lack of awareness and intimacy that fuels negative stereotypes and racism.

A minimum of £1 from every sale of this book will be donated to the charity Help Refugees. They support refugees in Europe and the Middle East by ensuring vital humanitarian aid arrives when it is needed most. They mobilise quickly to identify the most effective organisations on the ground and provide what is needed – whether that be financial, material or volunteer support – to help people fleeing war, persecution and poverty. Support the campaign and consider donating at helprefugees.org.

(Excerpt from the publisher's text)

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Title: El Dorado
Artist: Melissa Arras
Overlapse, 2019
Softcover, interior tip-in + A3 poster
186 x 230 mm, 64 pages
ISBN: 9781999446826
¥3,200 + tax