Bodies as Commodities

Our exhibit focuses on the theme of displacement, power, and control over the body. Forced displacement is not just about moving from one place to another; it also involves people’s bodies being controlled, silenced, and even turned into objects. When people flee their homes, they don’t just lose their belongings, but also their agency and dignity, as their lives become marked by violence or shaped by societal expectations.

In this exhibit, we explore Greco-Roman artifacts such as vessels and pottery alongside modern Vietnamese artifacts, highlighting how the struggle and control over bodies have existed throughout history. Through these artifacts, audiences can explore and acknowledge how refugees have been regulated and objectified.

We hope this exhibit helps us think critically about how power and control shape the refugee experience, both past and present.