Family Members Remembered by M&C Saatchi

Although the festive period often floods us with images of families arguing over food and presents, you can’t argue that at some point during the season, you felt a rush of love for your family… we hope.

As the most commercial, family-orientated holiday drew to a close with the turn of the New Year, M&C Saatchi extended the family theme last night with a private photo exhibition in partnership with Catholic aid agency for England and Wales (CAFOD).

Held at its London offices, the exhibition focused on a series of family portraits.

Only these portraits weren’t light-hearted, boring photos taken in a family’s front room… no, they featured Syrian families photographed in Lebanese refugee camp, Bekka Valley.

Each of the images were set up like a traditional family portrait with members posing in the typical style. But the startling difference was that in each photo, there was a missing member reimagined by an empty space or chair, forever remembered among the rest of the family.

The campaign Lost Family Portraits was last night introduced by the agency’s co-founder Maurice Saatchi.

Featuring work from documentary photographer Dario Mitiieri, the exhibition highlighted the number of Syrian families who have been affected by the refugee crisis.

“These are real people with real stories, and that is why it’s very important to keep raising the issue – [just] look at these photographs of families, read their stories,” he says.

CAFOD has supported families escaping from the region for many years by providing them with necessities, such as blankets, food and medical assistance. Money raised from this campaign will help the organisation to continue funding for these essentials.

To donate money towards CAFOD or to find out more about each family, click here.