Harley Weir’s Homes (2016) is on show at Fabrica, a 200-year-old former Regency church in the heart of Brighton’s busy Lanes. The images were taken over a period of ten days in Calais’ refugee camps prior to – and during – their emptying and eventual destruction.
The camps, informally known as ‘The Jungle’, were at one point home to over 8,000 men, women and children hoping to cross the Channel in search of a better life. Living conditions in the camps were widely described as dangerous and inhumane, with an overwhelming sense of displacement and grief.
Harley Weir has a background in fashion photography and was initially hesitant to tackle such a prominent issue. However, she felt compelled to raise awareness through her photography and to do so in a humane and sensitive way.