Photo credit: Noori Issa
The Ruptured Atlas (December 2023 - December 2024) is an innovative project employing creative, participatory mapping techniques to document the homes, displacement camps, routes, and return journeys of the Yazidis since the 2014 genocide. This initiative delves into the profound spatial experiences of displacement, survival, and return, highlighting the Yazidis' resilience, resourcefulness, and deep connection to their homeland, Sinjar. It also addresses the ongoing challenges they face in rebuilding homes, restoring their community, and overcoming trauma.
Central to the project are the 15 Yazidis whose personal stories and experiences are foundational to the research. Their narratives, captured through a series of online Creative Mapping Workshops facilitated by Sinjar Academy and through individual interviews, have been transformed into multi-modal story maps. These maps underscore the critical role these individuals play in shaping the narrative and outputs of the research, providing invaluable insights into the complexities of their experiences.
I have collaborated on this project with Dr Sana Murrani (University of Plymouth) as part of her AHRC Impact Accelerator Fellowship, and the project is in partnership with Sinjar Academy, Yazda Iraq, IOM Iraq, and the LSE Middle East Centre.
Collage: Sana Murrani