In Migration as Avant-Garde, Michael Danner examines the new ways in which migrants are pursuing their hope for a better life. The term “avant-garde” stands for progress and the way of a pioneer. Driven by the desire to give their lives meaning, and guided by their own integrity, migrants bring new perspectives and points of view to our society. The origin of his work was the reading of the 1943 essay We Refugees by the political philosopher Hannah Arendt.

"We lost our home, which means the familiarity of daily life. We lost our occupation, which means the confidence that we are of some use in this world. We lost our language, which means the naturalness of reactions, the simplicity of gestures, the unaffected expression of feelings." (Hannah Arendt, We Refugees, 1943)

MIGRATION AS AVANT-GARDE is available as a photobook, an exhibition and video installation (2 channel, 22mins, loop, stereo sound)