In Which Language Do We Dream?

In Which Language Do We Dream?

“Photographs stay with you forever, they bring your memories back.”

– Ruba al-Hindawi

In the UK, we are familiar with the news headlines and photographs of the so-called ‘refugee crisis’. But what happens to those refugees that attempt to rebuild their lives in the UK? What about their personal stories, and the relationships that form between new friends and new neighbours?

In Which Language Do We Dream? shows us fresh insights into these issues through the photographs of the al-Hindawi family, a Syrian family with lived experience.

Since 2011, due to the conflict in Syria an estimated 6.6 million people have been forced to leave their homes and their country. In 2012, the al-Hindawi family, Ruba, her husband Rami and their three children Mustapha, Yazan and Hanan, had no choice but to flee their home in Homs, when the city was besieged, and live as displaced people in Lebanon. Five years on, in 2017, the family were admitted to the UK under the British government’s resettlement scheme, and housed in a small market town in East Yorkshire. Later that same year, Rayan the family’s youngest child was born.

Having arrived in England, one of the first people the al-Hindawi family met was documentary photographer Rich Wiles.

Previously Rich had lived in a refugee camp in Palestine before returning to the north of England with his wife, a Palestinian refugee.

With expert guidance from Rich who assisted Ruba and her children with their technical and creative skills the family began taking their own photographs. His support helped the family

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take photographs of their new lives, in their own way, resulting in the joyful and carefree images we see here in this newspaper.

In Which Language Do We Dream? shows us some of the family’s personal stories through the photographs of Ruba, Mustapha, Yazan and Hanan. We are privileged to see the new and rich friendships they have formed and playful moments as they all go about their everyday life. These photographs are about hope and new beginnings, and as such help challenge the stereotypical images of refugees and asylum seekers we often see in mainstream media.

In Which Language Do We Dream? is a co-created publication; edited by Anne McNeill, who guided the selection of photographs through discussions with Ruba, her family and Rich.

First published in October 2021 to coincide with the exhibition In Which Language Do We Dream? by Rich Wiles and Ruba al-Hindawi at Impressions Gallery, Bradford, and Platforma 6 Festival, Yorkshire and online.

Impressions Gallery is a charity that helps people understand the world through photography.

Platfoma Festival is a biennial arts festival celebrating and showcasing arts and culture by, about and with refugees and migrants. Platforma is produced by Counterpoints Arts in partnership with organisations across the country.

With thanks to Alan Raw at Creative and Cultural Company, Hull, who provided two cameras to the al-Hindawi family, and to the St Hugh’s Foundation for the Arts for funding Rich Wiles in the early stages of this project.

In Which Language Do We Dream?

“Mustapha always takes Hanan to school and brings her back, she loves Mustapha to take her but at the same time she also nags at him, even though she loves him.”

“ This reminds me of the good times we have together - me with all my friends and my brother. It makes me happy to see all my friends and my family happy. It’s hard for me and my brother not to see some of our friends and family because some of them live in different countries.”

– Ruba

– Yazan

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“ This was our first time in this area. We had lots of fun and the children loved it. It’s lovely in summer and hopefully we will go again.”

– Ruba

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In Which Language Do We Dream?

“Mustapha’s favourite hobby is playing football.

I hope to see him become a good player.”

– Ruba

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“I was tidying the shed. The girls came to help me and they found some tins of sardines which they they started to play with and have fun.”

– Ruba

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In Which Language Do We Dream?

”Hanan and friends Hiyam, Miriam, and Aboody practicing TikTok dances. All had become fans of TikTok during lockdown.“ – Ruba

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“This is my favourite photograph because it’s the memory of when me and my friends used to go river jumping.”

– Mustapha

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In Which Language Do We Dream?

“Hanan likes dancing and playing games. I took her to the park so that she could release her energy and play.”

– Ruba

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“Rayan was really happy with her new dress and was wearing it for the first time when she went to visit her friend Miriam.“ – Ruba

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In Which Language Do We Dream?

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In Which Language Do We Dream?

“Hanan and Rayan were happy because I took them to get some toys and I let them choose whatever they wanted. When we were walking home Rayan was trying to copy Hanan.”

– Ruba

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“This is in Dalby Forest, it’s a bit far away from where we live and is so beautiful.”

– Ruba

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In Which Language Do We Dream?

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“The children like to eat outside in the garden. It was a chance to do this because the weather was lovely, in this country most of the days are cold and raining.”

“This photograph was taken after dinner at the house of Rami’s (extended) family. Me and Rami’s cousins and my friend Mervet were all really happy because we had fun together.”

– Ruba

– Ruba

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In Which Language Do We Dream?

“Mustapha was playing with Jude, and Hanan got annoyed because he wasn’t giving her attention, so she stood near him so he could see she was upset.”

– Ruba

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“This picture I love. The butterflies stay close to each other which reminds me of my brothers and sisters we always used to stay close to each other.”

– Ruba

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In Which Language Do We Dream?

“ This is my second favourite flower because it is my second favourite colour. I see this flower all the time near our house.”

“I took this picture because I like flowers and it reminds me of when me and my sister were playing there.”

– Hanan

– Hanan

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“ This is a visit to some members of Rami’s (extended) family. They cooked a traditional dinner for us and the food was delicious.”

“ This is Arabic coffee and Arabic sweets prepared when we went to visit some of Rami’s family. It was a nice gathering and reminded us about our days in Syria.”

– Ruba

– Ruba

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In Which Language Do We Dream?

“We were in the house. The children wanted Rami to make their dinner and we were scared that Rami’s dinner wasn’t going to be nice. But the dinner was delicious because I supervised the cooking so my children had their food.”

“It was the first day of Ramadan. We love Ramadan because it comes once a year and we have our own traditions in this month.”

– Ruba

– Ruba

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“I took this picture because I love going to the park and on the swings.

(During lockdown) I had to take this picture because normally lots of children are playing on it.”

“I like this picture because that is my favourite type of flower and pink is my favourite colour too.”

– Hanan

– Hanan

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In Which Language Do We Dream?

“ The weather was hot and we went to our neighbour’s house so that the girls could play with Luna.”

– Ruba

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First published in October 2021 to coincide with the exhibition In Which Language Do We Dream?

by Rich Wiles and Ruba al-Hindawi at Impressions Gallery, Bradford, and Platforma 6 Festival, Yorkshire and online.

Made possible thanks to public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Photographs and text © al-Hindawi family and Impressions Gallery.

ISBN 0-906361-32-X

Designed by Rachael Lightowler Design & Creative.

Printed by Mortons Printing, Horncastle, UK.

www.impressions-gallery.com www.counterpointsarts.org.uk www.richwiles.com