Trash that talks: An exhibit of things left behind by migrant workers crossing the U.S.-Mexico border

A stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border. Photo credit: Richard Barnes.

For Jason De León, the story of undocumented migrant workers’ treacherous trek northward from Mexico through Arizona is a complex, layered contemporary narrative best told by what is left behind.

For the past four years, De León—an assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Michigan—has directed a group of U-M students in an exhaustive collection and archeological documentation of clothes, personal belongings and odd bits of refuse left in the wake of undocumented migrants traveling along the U.S.-Mexico border.

While De León’s Undocumented Migration Project has received widespread attention in the national news media and especially in the southwest U.S., the Institute of Humanities at U-M is the first venue to present the expansive collection of found objects of De León’s meticulous chronicle, which some critics claim offers an evocative testament to the “human cost of immigration.”

The exhibit, “State of Exception,” features the videography of acclaimed photographer Richard Barnes, whose work has been exhibited at many prestigious museums in the U.S. Barnes’ video work, which complements De León’s humanistic undertaking, depicts the conditions and challenges of those making the journey northward while evoking the ambiguity of the found objects—water bottles, back packs, toys, personal photos and wallets, shoes – that litter the desert path leading to the Arizona border.

“The narrative of this kind of migration is usually, ‘Here is a sad tale,’” De León said. “But if you look at the objects, they can tell you how much more is going on.”

The exhibit, which runs until March 12 at the Institute of Humanities, 202 S. Thayer St., is part of the Understanding Race Project, the College of Literature, Science and the Arts theme semester that explores the many notions of race throughout the winter term.

From January through April, an extensive range of public exhibits, performances, lectures, symposia and more than 130 courses in several disciplines explore the concept and impact of race. The historical, cultural, psychological and legal interpretations of race will be examined from both national and global perspectives.

As evidence of the historical significance of the Undocumented Migration Project, the collected items—kept in an intricate inventory of boxes at De León’s U-M office—will be transferred to the Smithsonian Institute Archives during the summer of 2014.

“Together, the collected found objects and Richard Barnes’ photography reveals the nuances, complexities and violence of the culture of immigration along the southeastern U.S. border,” said Amanda Krugliak, who, as exhibition curator, selected a range of items to evoke the distinct experiences of undocumented migrants. “We hope the exhibit will inspire a range of conversations, from the power of ‘found objects’ to evoke stories and profound meanings, to a new way of thinking about immigration policy.”

Indeed, “State of Exception” is proving to be especially timely. President Obama has been pushing for a major overhaul of the immigration system. The preliminary plan calls for a path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants currently in the U.S. The controversial debate is expected to look at issues such as amnesty, payment of back taxes and a verification system to track legal status.

More information about each of the panelists can be found at “State of Exception” here.