Meat And Greet

Belonging to my '(Host)ile' project

Old English gretan "to come in contact with "in any sense "attack, accost" as well as "salute, welcome" and "touch, take hold of, handle, seek out, approach".

The name refers to journeys refugees have undertaken and the dividing mindset of the British public. I found it bizarre that people who are implicit in war and conflict give those who are active in them medals, and yet those fleeing war-torn countries, often created by those very people are shunned and unwelcomed by the majority of the current UK government. I found that those people should be rewarded with something given the circumstances, for their experience and their tenacity to find a new place to call home.

The use of a mustard colour in the ribbon is for its symbolic meaning: warmth, creativity, optimism and diversity. I was debating whether to use red, as I didn't want to potentially remind asylum seekers and refugees of a vision of blood, and then I felt that some might well want to think of where they are now and the hardship they have gone through, who am I to say, but it was also because of red's varied meanings: sacrifice, danger, courage, heat, activity, passion, sexuality, anger, love, and joy.

The crystal for the pupil is because of its colour reference in Arabic cultures and it’s spiritual meaning to shield.

An eye and a butterfly are universal symbols. The butterfly is a symbol of transformation, hope, rebirth and faith, whereas the eye in Arabic cultures and elsewhere, is a symbol of protection against evil, healing and good luck.

The 5 largest groups of asylum seekers are Syria, Eritrea, Sudan, Afghanistan and Iraq.