Most Americans have never met a refugee, much less had a personal connection with one. But, many veterans' lives are intertwined with those of refugees in profound and deeply personal ways. “WhatIFoughtFor” documents the profound connections of veterans and refugees. These are their stories.
Tanika is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, artist, and photographer. Her work focuses on humanitarian and environmental issues. She is currently based in the Los Angeles Area.
#WhatIFoughtFor is a traveling exhibition brought to Art in Motion through a partnership with Unite Cloud and was on view in the gallery from October 26th to November 22nd, 2020. This show was the first solo show in our gallery and it offered a unique reflective art-viewing experience. The larger-than-life portraits of veterans and refugees in black and white highlight the humanity of all people in the world especially those touched by conflict. The stories of connection between the veterans and the refugees open doors to a humane and just understanding of people whose identities and presence are often stigmatized, polarized and politicized.
