"Absent Images is a project that spreads via public canvasses in the city and throughout the country. Billboard panels, advertising spaces, empty walls or windows, they all become carriers of a political message. The message is written in a language that is not understood by most of the people in this country. It’s the language of most of the people who fled their home country. The text wants to welcome them in their own language, and is an apology for the way this welcome happened so far.
We apologize for not treating all humans equally.
The questions concerning the refugee-crisis are complex, but what is certain is that the political answers are insufficient, inept and in some cases inhumane. But what about our own politics? How do “we” - people who live here, with or without papers- relate to these newcomers? How do we let ourselves be influenced by media and politics?
We apologize for not speaking up." (SV)

Een project van Sarah Vanhee Productie: Vooruit & Manyone
I.s.m. Courtisane, Tumult Gent, CAMPO
Met speciale dank aan: Arabic Translations Belgium bvba, Nellie Ivanova, Amjad Ali Shah, Tibor Moco, Matthieu Goeury, Safiye Ergurbuz, Hand-in-Hand Gent, VictoriaDeluxe, Koerdisch Instituut Brussel
Met dank aan: Daniel Blanga-Gubbay, Chris Bens, Katrien Reist, Marika Ingels, en aan alle individuen en organisaties die Absent Images delen en verspreiden.