Apolis

Arash Fayez's Apolis is a visual autobiography covering the years 2014 to 2018, telling the story of a life in uncertainty. The 312 pages contain the complete U.S. immigration file of the artist, from his arrest to his voluntary departure. Official documents are layered with cell phone photos that capture everyday life during these years. Photos are collaged over sections of the immigration file that contain personal data and sensitive information. This juxtaposition creates a multifaceted narrative where the contrast between different perspectives is clearly highlighted - the perspective of the powerful and that of the powerless. The idea for the project arose from a conversation between the artist and an immigration lawyer, who succinctly described his legal status and the complexity of the situation: "Your status is not illegal, but it is also not legal." Arash Fayez works as an artist with various types of imagery and engages with concepts of the in-between. He was born in Tehran, studied art at the California College of the Arts in San Francisco, and now lives in Barcelona.