Refugee Crisis by Alejo Porras

Alejo Porras

Each Creative Action Network poster is hand-printed and handled to make sure that only the highest quality is offered and sent out. The sturdy matte paper and premium inks create a vibrant, museum-quality image that looks great both framed and unframed. Posters are printed in Los Angeles, CA on Epson Enhanced Matte Paper heavyweight stock, with a wide color gamut and Epson UltraChrome HDR ink-jet technology. The framed poster arrives wrapped in a protective yet lightweight black frame and includes a shatter-resistant acrylite front protector that won't break during shipping. International orders may be subject to customs duties & taxes. 

Proceeds Support:

Proceeds support the Anti-Defamation League, the nation's premier civil rights/human relations agency, fighting anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects civil rights for all. We Were Strangers Too is a collection of designs showing how diverse and universal the refugee experience truly is.

See More Designs From This Collection »

Artist Statement

The refugee crisis was created by violence in Afghanistan, poverty in Kosovo, but mainly because of military conflict in Syria. By April 2015, about 4 million people have fled the country according to Amnesty International UK (https://www.amnesty.org.uk/worlds-deadliest-sea-crossing-mediterranean). Amnesty also said "The current conflict in Syria has caused the worst humanitarian crisis this century". I believe it's true and we should help. A photo of a drowned child on a Greek shore was a wake up call for the rest of the world, as many were ignoring this or not realizing the huge proportions of it. That photo struck me with a deep sadness for the difficulties these people are going through while pursuing that glimpse of hope in the horizon, and with anger for the injustice, the violence and the cruelty of the people who created this conflict on the first place. It's hard enough to leave your country. Add to that running away from it knowing you have no home to come back, no place to stay, no certainty at all, and fearing for your life and the life of your loved ones. I wish for these people to find refuge, for countries and goverments to open their arms and receive them and for people to realize that we can all help in some way. I made this illustration while struggling with all this feelings. I was reading about all the people who died in the Mediterranean Sea and it felt like they were fleeing from war but somehow war chased them. Like they were running away from a storm, but they were caught up in turbulent waters. Like there seems to be no hope, but they keep swimming anyway because they can see an intermittent light at the distance. I hope we can be a light for them in this dark times they are going through. — Alejo Porras