In 1901, the Australian government introduced the Immigration Restriction Act as an attempt to keep Australia “an ethnically homogenous society”(1). The Act marked the beginning of “White Australia Policy”. The policy restricted non-European immigration to the country. One of the impacts include the reduction of Asian population from 1.25 % in 1901 to 0.21% in the 1940s(2). At the same time, the European, especially British population were reinforced through propaganda tools such as posters showing Australia as the future land, promises of occupation, house and more opportunities. Prior to the World War II, for political and economical purposes, there was a relaxation on the immigration restriction and Australia began to take in mixed races and refugees to the country. As seen in the posters showing Australia as the future land, promises of occupation, house and more opportunities, this project is to visualize the idea of a dream land for refugees and asylum seekers who are stranded and being held in immigration camp, especially in Java, Indonesia. Using photography, subversively this project is to make the immigrants’ dreams come true.

Pictorial Approach

We interviewed and took photographs of the asylum seekers stranded and held in the immigration camp in some cities in Indonesia. The questions were about stories behind their decision to migrate, which will be the narrative of this project.

Pictorial approach refers to their family important moments. Assuming that they have reached the
dream land with their family, wearing their best outfits, go to the best studio in town, put on a happy, full of spirit and hopes faces.