Mitchell Eismont

Artist Statement

Artist Statement Mitchell Eismont Refugee Posters

The refugee crisis has been going on since the beginning of human existence. The main causes of refugee’s are typical persecution for religion and race. The poster series is called, “Outcasts.” It depicts famous refugee’s.

This work was created in direct reflection of the crisis going on in Syria. According the United Nations there is a count of about 5 million registered refugees, and many more unregistered. There has been a backlash against the refugee’s because of their Islamic religion. Many people are confusing Jihadists Terrorists, with Muslims, and are condemning an entire peaceful religion. The posters are set to change the conversation behind refugee’s and treating them as the Bible states in Matthew 7:12 “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.” Instead of inflicting religious bios and not helping the war torn poor. The viewer of these works of art should have a reflection inward, about if they are doing enough to help others. There also maybe a sense of hatred to the posters, if a person feels their religious interpretation clashes with the simple statement, “Jesus was a refugee.”

The famous religious figures and people chosen to be illustrated for this project are refugee’s that the typical person can connect with. I wanted to use a technique to create the posters in which a person fleeing their country could use, to create the illustrations. The media chosen was, block cut, ink and 80-year-old paper, then digital blown up. The aesthetic gives the posters a sense of urgency.

These works of art hopefully change a few viewer’s perspectives on helping others, that don’t have the same religious as themselves. The intent of these works is to have an honest debate about the past and the current events surrounding the refugees. This refugee crisis is going to go down in history as one of the worst atrocities that the world has known. I want to do everything in my power, with art, to help change the devastation.