An immigrant is a person who chose the country to move to, had the time to reconsider, had the option of what to pack and what to leave behind, the time to say goodbye to people and places.

A refugee is the opposite.

Let them stay is a body of work which predominantly features self-portraits exploring the comforting themes of refugee inspired stories, mostly through a community of friends whom have travelled by boat to Australia, harbouring dreams of a better life for themselves. Ayman says, "a friend (and Syrian refugee) once told me, 'we are not alive, we are just surviving' and this has always stayed with me." 

For Ayman Kaake, sometimes imagination is better than reality. Born in Tripoli, Lebanon, Ayman moved to Australia in 2011 to study visual arts. Pursuing his creative vision led to diplomas in photo-imaging and visual arts from Melbourne Polytechnic, winning best conceptual folio with each. In 2014, his passion for cinema and photography eventually developed into a body of digital artworks, creating surreal images that delve into the dreamlike world of personal experiences, emotional turmoil, and the complexities of isolation that come with starting a new life in a new country.

Image courtesy of the artist.