Lis Rhodes 6 - Ambiguous Journeys
In the presence of and introduced by Lis Rhodes
In the presence of and introduced by Lis Rhodes
There is very little protection for someone with little or nothing. Without proof of address, existence becomes difficult. A person with no papers — virtually defined as non-existent — is tolerated if their labour is so cheap that they can be held in a condition of forced debt. There is no ambiguity in the reasonable reasons for the journeys made by many — from conditions that are organised, imposed and untenable. War, poverty, unemployment move people. The danger is — as in Running Light — of ‘no papers’. Destitute with no papers — made stateless — a labour force is created that is excluded from any protection which may still exist in law. Is being illegal a condition in itself? How can being be illegal? But this is exploited by a global economy dependent on expendable labour. The distortions of corporate wealth and cheap labour are made to appear inevitable. They are not. The ambiguity is in the place of writing — the frozen window — drawn in ice. (Lis Rhodes)