Drawing Beyond Borders: migration narratives, drawing practice, and ethnographic research

By combining anthropological research with my artistic career, this thesis explores the intersection of a drawing-based methodology within the context of migration narratives and experiences. What do we miss out when relying solely on verbal and/or written modes of expression? The unrealistic expectation to conform to a credible and convincing linear narrative during the asylum determination process, performing a “coherent and plausible” account of persecution (Directive 2011/95/EU), disregards the contingency of categories such as truth and credibility. A perspective deeply rooted in the Western illusion that telling means stating the truth and that the spoken or written word is evidence of that truth, sole, and unique. Furthermore, it cannot be ignored that asymmetric power dynamics often entail the co-production of asylum-seeker accounts within highly controlled contexts, which limits their authority over their own testimony and voice. Relying on Bruner’s distinction between “life as lived,” “life as experienced,” and “life as told” (1986), and on Eastmond’s “life as text” (2007), this practice-based research centers its inquiry on yet another dimension of expression: life as drawing. It applies a collaborative graphic approach to data collection and representation, engaging with Ingold’s notion of “graphic anthropology.” To use his words, this implies considering "drawing not just as a means to illustrate an otherwise written text, but as an inscriptive practice in its own right" (2011). This thesis explores the potential of this methodology to express complex realities – in other words, to “depict reality beyond realism, of transcending” (Afonso, 2004), and thus exceeding the borders of linear textual representation. What assumptions underlie spoken and written languages? How can a drawing-based methodology contribute to the creation of an additional layer of understanding for migration narratives, imaginaries, and emotional experiences? And what are the implications of this medium for research participants and researchers alike? These questions are not merely an exploration of artistic expression but a deeper investigation into the ways in which nonlinear, performative methodologies can mirror the complexities of migration narratives, offering insights beyond the boundaries of traditional academic verbal and/or written modes of expression.