A scanned receipt from Syrian borders when fleeing war and leaving Syria. Here you can see the focus on the blue hue found in the stamps and signatures.

The inception of this project stems from a personal exploration of my legal documents. It is a journey that has unfolded into a comprehensive examination of the colour "Dictatorship Blue", a particular hue I traced within the context of legal documentation issued by the Syrian government, most notably during the Assad regime.

“Dictatorship Blue” has its foundations in the Assad regime’s stamps, signatures, and official documents which function as bureaucratic pressure to control its citizens. The colour I produced serves as a visual representation and encapsulation of this bureaucratic control as well as surveillance mechanisms wielded by the authoritarian government. Derived from the hues found in my own legal documents, this colour became a focal point for illustrating the interplay between personal narratives and the broader socio-political forces at play.

A key aim of my artistic research was to transcend the specific actions of the Assad regime, expanding its focus to encompass a critical reflection on global bureaucratic structures. The prevalence of  blue in signatures and stamps within legal documents becomes a pivotal element, facilitating a comprehensive analysis of bureaucratic violence. Beyond merely reflecting the control exerted by the Assad regime, this choice of colour transforms into a broader commentary on the inherent violence ingrained in the documentation processes of bureaucratic institution.

Consequently, my investigation extends beyond the Syrian context to include an examination of stamps and signatures on documents I received during my journey across Europe to escape the Syrian Civil War. Facing similar bureaucratic pressures at European country borders, where obtaining specific papers and documents was imperative for progression, I found myself grappling with a sense of stagnation. At points I was close to abandoning my pursuit of safety and refuge. My project wishes to shed light on the significant and effective power wielded by these instruments and how these documents – through their exclusionary policies and discriminatory practices – perpetuate social and economic inequalities. By associating the colour blue with bureaucratic violence, my project evolves into a nuanced critique addressing both specific authoritarian regimes and systemic issues inherent in bureaucratic institutions.

Dictatorship Blue, 2023-ongoing

 A scanned document I received from the Macedonian immigration police when being smuggled into Europe in 2016. 

 A scanned entry ticket I received from the Lebanese border control when entering Lebanon from Syria.