Some work invited an element of audience participation, like Ania Bas & Les Monghan’s Asylum Seeker game, emblazoned with the satirical slogan ‘the game that lasts a lifetime!’. Developed collaboratively out of a year-long residency the artist undertook with a group of asylum seekers, refugees and those with ‘no status’, the game explores the very real stresses and anxieties they face. Players attempt to move round a Monopoly-style board where everyday frustrations and setbacks (like “You work hard and get very sick. Go to hospital") must be conquered before reaching the top prize: official leave to remain.
And some comments from the audience members and the game players:
An absolutely fantastic project! Really sums up the whole experience! Nana
What a great game. It pretends to be about passing time but you can really sense real life turns into a lottery, completely out of peoples controle. Great Game!
Really creative way to show the process.
Reading through the playing cards tears come to my eyes. Never have I realised how hard it must be. This game is quite an accomplishment.
You made me laugh - but what I really mean is I want to cry!
Amazing. It should go to the market!
Never was a truer word spoken in jest - profound!
Great work - the cards are spot on from my 10+ years experience of this segregated world of asylum.
Brilliant!
It is a wonderful work. Thank you.
This is a brilliant way to quickly convey the terrible truth of seeking asylum in the UK. Very thought provoking. Thank you.
Many thanks to Cathy Aitchison and most wonderful Counterpoint crew!
