French photographer Gérard Rancinan is known for his striking work. Paris Match brings perspective to his metaphoric use of Géricault's Raft of the Medusa to portrait the miroir aux alouettes that Western Europe is to those seeking a better life. They will try anything to leave their misery behind. Tens of thousands of them, packing in trucks or on makeshift rafts, hiding under trains or in aircraft landing gears. They come from everywhere: the former Eastern Block, Asia, Africa, the Middle-East. Not always making it alive, rarely making it at all. Gigantic, hopeless raft indeed.
Rancinan purposely used immigrants for his photo shoot (making of here.) Think we expats have a rough time adapting our nomadic lifestyles to national states and laws? Think twice.
illustration via Alimage
