Iman Tajik

Calais

Iman Tajik, 2015
Calais is a photographic series by Iman Tajik, created during his documentation of the ‘Jungle’ refugee camp in Calais, France, in 2015. The camp, home to thousands of displaced people seeking asylum in Europe, existed at the edge of borders structured against those living there.

The series focuses on the everyday lives of the camp’s inhabitants, capturing moments of endurance, resilience, and resourcefulness. Through intimate images of makeshift shelters, personal belongings, and daily routines, Tajik highlights the human impact of policies and systems that restrict movement and access to safety.

By foregrounding these personal spaces and interactions, Calais reflects on the broader realities of life on borders—how physical and political boundaries limit freedom, and how people navigate these challenges with dignity and agency. The photographs invite viewers to consider the consequences of exclusion and the resilience required to survive in spaces where the rules are not in one’s favour.

The work has been exhibited in Stills Gallery, Edinburgh; Hunterian Art Gallery, Glasgow; Foot Gallery, Stirling; and is part of the University of Stirling Art Collection. It is also held in The Fleming Collection, Scotland.