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A photography book that captures the miniature gardens in refugee camps.
Following Shelter and Ville de Calais, Rooted offers a glimpse into the lives of refugees and migrants. While sharing the same theme – of exploring the bleak reality of living in refugee camps – each of the three books tells a distinct story. For Rooted, photographer Henk Wildschut collaborated with graphic designer Robin Uleman, who also worked with the photographer on his previous two titles. This book chronicles the array of small gardens that have become a symbol of a makeshift home in refugee camps.
Often no more than a few flowers or herbs growing from a couple of tin cans, these miniature gardens signify hope as well as a determination to create the feel of home in hopeless circumstances. Apart from Calais, the photos also show the gardens growing in refugee camps in Tunisia, Jordan, and Lebanon. These flowers and herbs symbolize the basic human need to put down roots and create a sense of stability. In this case, in a foreign soil that feels a world away from home. This applies even in cases where the camp is located a mere 15 miles from the refugees’ original home.
The micro-gardens become both a reminder of a normal life and a comforting microcosm in a difficult environment where permanent displacement becomes a harsh reality. You can pre-order a signed copy of the self-published Rooted at a discounted price until June 26. The photographer also offers a special edition of the book. Limited to 100 copies, it comes with a signed and numbered photographic print. Photographs© Henk Wildschut.
