Artist Reimagines World Leaders As Refugees In Powerful New Series

"In this universe without gravity, all we can hold on to is our vulnerability. I have convinced myself it is the strongest weapon humankind possesses, way more powerful than the trail of power games, bomb craters and bullet holes in our collective memories. Vulnerability is a gift we should all celebrate.”

It’s easy to judge others when you live a life of affluence and security is a companion. For the millions of people who have been displaced due to war, however, such luxuries are rarely afforded. It is for this reason artist and Syrian refugee Abdalla Al Omari created a powerful series of paintings that reimagine world leaders as refugees.

Leaders including Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-un, and Donald Trump are depicted as exhausted, penniless refugees who face challenges on the daily in the series entailed “The Vulnerability Series.” The artist explained on his website,

“Intimate hours I spent with them have thought me more than I could imagine. Just as easily as everything worth defending can become defenseless, moments of absolute powerlessness can give you superpowers. In this universe without gravity, all we can hold on to is our vulnerability. I have convinced myself it is the strongest weapon humankind possesses, way more powerful than the trail of power games, bomb craters and bullet holes in our collective memories. Vulnerability is a gift we should all celebrate.”

According to a United Nations report, the number of persons seeking asylum or escape from areas of the conflict reached 65.6 million in 2016 — more than there was after World War II. It’s time to provide actual solutions to the displacement crisis and for world leaders to collaborate so tensions might be reduced and the number of refugees decreased.

Learn more: Abdalla Al Omari | Twitter