I am grateful (?)

Behind the walls of these refugee centres lies a hidden reality that doesn’t look like the Netherlands. You might think that the route is the hardest part of any refugee's journey, but unfortunately, the challenges continues even within the country of arrival— in this case, the Netherlands. The struggle persists within the confines of the Dutch refugee centres. Arriving in the Netherlands should mark the end of the story, where everyone can live happily but the reality is that another journey, not much better than the previous one, has just begun.

Space is a defining element in every refugee’s journey. It begins with the decision to leave home, abandoning familiar spaces and navigating through dangerous, often unimaginable places. Many refugees find themselves trapped in limbo, unable to move forward or cross borders. Yet even upon reaching their destination, the struggle does not end. It continues within the walls of refugee centres, where waiting becomes the only option. In this project, I aim to depict the struggles refugees face in refugee centres in the Netherlands. I intend to create spaces that mirror the emotions experienced within these rooms. How do these spaces evolve over time of endless waiting? And how do they embody the mental state of their inhabitants? What do spaces represent if they identify a system of repetition and uncertainty? Through this installation, I have created 50 rooms, categorized into four types: Actual, Paper, Waiting, and Emotional rooms. These rooms attempt to translate the reality of life inside Dutch refugee centres. Many people find themselves stuck in these spaces—whether in singular or shared rooms—where emotions and struggles grow beyond what the walls can contain. Every small detail matters: materials, textures, and objects all shape human experience, affecting both the body and the mind. By recreating a series of spaces based on my own experiences and those of many others, I aim to make visible the unseen struggles of displacement. Space becomes a tool to express the weight of uncertainty, repetition, and lack of agency. Through this work, I invite viewers to engage with the realities of refugee life, where space is more than just a shelter—it is a reflection of endurance, resilience, and the search for belonging.