This paper focuses on two fields of creative practice, collaborative photography and documentary theatre, and considers how creative practice allows communication across modes and enables stories of forced migration that might otherwise stay hidden.
Forced migration as an object of study is predominantly associated with flows of populations rather than movements of individuals with names (Phipps 2016). During this particular and on-going political turbulence of 'refugee reception crisis', where identity inscriptions, such as religion, ethnicity and gender are securitized, it is important to pay attention to the emic side of the stories and lived experiences of individuals. Who are the persons who are fleeing from war-torn countries? How can creative and participatory practice, facilitate collaboration in order to go beyond language? Can creative practice truly enhance understanding of forced migration and belonging? Creative practice has found its way into research on language and migration. In this paper, I focus on two fields of creative practice, collaborative photography and documentary theatre, and consider how creative practice allows communication across modes and enables topics that might otherwise stay hidden because of a lack of trust and possibility for reciprocal relationships. The examples derive from two collaborative projects: a photography project with unaccompanied minor asylum seekers and their counsellors, and a documentary theatre project with refugee artists (musicians, actors, poets), who are trying to find their place in Finland. Both projects draw on linguistic ethnography and long-term partnerships, where personal stories become public and political. I also show that working with, into and through the arts opens pathways towards epistemic solidarity, conviviality, and socially sensitive active listening with individuals when they are telling their stories about their lived experiences and feelings of forced displacement in spatial and social isolation. I will also reflect on ethically responsible practices and the challenges of undertaking collaborative research with participants who are experiencing vulnerable lives in liminal spaces.
