Moria is the largest refugee camp in Europe, situated on the island of Lesbos, Greece. Since its beginning in 2015, the living conditions in the camp have become inhumane, in part due to its extreme overpopulation. Moria was designed to accommodate 3000 people yet housed up 20,000 at its peak last summer. In September 2020 a fire destroyed the camp, forcing approximately 7000 people to relocate to a new camp. In the new camp better known as Moria 2, the conditions deteriorated dramatically and human rights are being violated on a daily basis. Journalists and photographers are not allowed to enter the new camp while NGO workers are instructed to not take pictures: the visibility of the camp in international media has thus been reduced to almost zero.
In January 2021 the collective launched a call to action to increase public awareness regarding Moria. Designers from around the globe were invited to create posters based on the photographs taken in the camps. The response was overwhelming: nearly 500 graphic designers responded to the Love for Moria call for human rights. The posters were made available through the Now You See Me Moria website, encouraging people to download and print them, to hang in their windows, on balconies, at schools, universities, cultural institutions, and in the streets. They were also used in demonstrations in front of governmental and EU buildings in major European cities on February 14, Valentine’s day.
The support for Now You See Me Moria has been growing ever since it was created. Yet, a continuous effort is crucial in order to make the EU acknowledge the reality of the camp and take action. In collaboration with Paradox , Now You See Me Moria developed an ‘action book’ as a means of hand in hand protest.
“We need your help. Go out, speak to your neighbors, to your friends, start a demonstration, ask and demand a solution to the policy makers from your environment for a change.”
Therefore, Café Utopie organises a pop-up exhibition ‘Now You See Me Moria’ from the 12th to 16th of July. Let’s show that we care! And do it together, all across Europe. Where Café Utopie provides a place to come together in The Hague. You are welcome to come during our opening hours from 17.00 to 22.00.
Program:
Monday: 17.00 – 22.00 exhibition Now You See Me Moria
Tuesday: 17.00 – 22.00 exhibition Now You See Me Moria
Wednesday: 17.00 – 22.00 exhibition Now You See Me Moria + watch the online interview with Noemí and Christian
Thursday: 17.00 – 22.00 exhibition Now You See Me Moria + documentary night ‘From Lesvos with Love’
Friday: 17.00 – 22.00 exhibition Now You See Me Moria + watch the online interview with Noemí and Christian
During our exhibition we collect money to help a family who are already in the camp for two years. The activist & collective project Now You See Me Moria found an appartment for a beautiful Afghan family, the couple with a son of 17, girl of 14 and one of 4.