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'I want to remember how it feels to belong'

Jasmine Ketibuah-FoleyBBC News, Bristol
News imageMana Baoosh A lady sitting on a chair in her garden with washing behind her, plant pots and bushes. Her house is visible too, it has grey wooden walls and white-framed windowsMana Baoosh
Mana Baoosh photographs her stays in other people's homes

An Iranian photographer has documented staying in stranger's homes to share her experience of migration.

After moving to the UK six years ago, Mana Baoosh said she realised she was struggling with "anxiety and depression" and feeling homesick and, as a result, stopped being able to recall certain periods of her past.

The Bristol-based photography MA student decided to take on a project where she could make new memories with strangers.

The 'We Are More Than Strangers' series has seen her stay in the homes of more than 30 people in England and Wales as a way of "remembering how it felt to belong".

"When the pandemic began I was already feeling homesick, but the travel restrictions made it impossible to return home, which intensified those feelings," she said.

"As time went on, I faced many other challenges - ups and downs that eventually led to depression and anxiety, deeply affecting my life."

News imageMana Baoosh A side profile of Mana with pale purple coloured hair and a pinstriped black top. She is looking at the camera and the background is out of focus.Mana Baoosh
Ms Baoosh is looking wants to exhibit the series in Bristol and Wales once the project is complete
News imageMana Baoosh A lady sat on a sun lounger in her own garden wearing a brown bikini with washing above her. Alongside the garden is a light brown wooden fence and her home is of red brick with white door frames and windowsMana Baoosh
More than 30 people have taken part in the photography series so far

"There came a point when I realised I was struggling to recall certain periods of my past and it felt as though I was experiencing memory loss around specific moments of my life," added Ms Baoosh, who is studying at the University of the West of England (UWE).

"I now want to remember how it feels to belong somewhere - driven by a desire to avoid further loss and to preserve the past, create new memories moving forward."

News imageMana Baoosh A lady sat on a sofa in her living room with her cat. The sofa has a leopard print throw on it and there are some pictures on the wall in the corner and a window to her right.Mana Baoosh
The 'We Are More Than Strangers' project invited people from England and Wales to take part
News imageMana Baoosh A woman stands on the left and a child sits in bed on the right. The room has neutral pink tones in it and a window is seen between the two people.Mana Baoosh
Ms Baoosh says the photos created new memories to replace the ones she lost

Going into other people's "private worlds" Ms Baoosh would stay with them for a few days and keep a camera on a tripod in the corner of a room chosen by the host.

"I can say that all of them [the hosts] have become friends," she added.

News imageMana Baoosh A man and a woman sit at a table covered in a blue gingham cloth. There are three mugs and a vase of flower sat on top and they are both smiling at the camera. In the background is a large window through which trees are visibleMana Baoosh
Ms Baoosh says the people she photographed have now become close friends
News imageMana Baoosh A woman wearing a tracksuit jacket sat on a floral printed arm chair and footrest. She is in a living room that has a few paintings on the wall, floral wallpaper and a black fireplace to the right.Mana Baoosh
Ms Baoosh hopes to document about 50 people before ending the project

Sian Trenberth, 62, from Cardiff, who took part in the project said it really solidified her friendship with Ms Baoosh and made her question what it must be like to move to a different country.

"In her body of work, some of her subjects were new to Britain - I've always lived in the same place," she said.

News imageMana Baoosh A lady wearing a red and black floral top and a long red skirt. She has her hand leaning on a shelf looking at the camera and in the foreground an old black and white photo of someone can be seen sat on a mantle piece.Mana Baoosh
Ms Trenberth said the project made her think about what it is like to live in a different country

"It did make me think about what it is like to leave your country and live somewhere completely different and what that might mean.

"Since this project she's become a friend - that's a very special thing."

Ms Baoosh said the We Are More Than Strangers series, is something she wants to continue until she has stayed with 50 participants, and then it will be exhibited in Bristol and Wales.

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