Walking Dreamers

Our diverse team consists of students from different national and cultural backgrounds, bringing together varied perspectives on movement, displacement, and belonging. We are particularly interested in the political and poetic dimensions of walking—how it becomes a means of reclaiming space, asserting identity, and seeking social change. From global migratory movements and religious pilgrimages to acts of protest and everyday strolls, we examine the ways walking has been historically and contemporarily used to challenge borders, express solidarity, and forge new realities.

​By weaving together research, lived experiences, and artistic practice, Walking Dreamers seeks to create a dialogue between personal journeys and broader social movements. Our work aims to highlight the deep connection between walking and dreaming—how each step can be an act of resistance, a form of storytelling, and a path toward transformation.

We started by exploring walking as a metaphor for dreams, resistance, and migration. This led to discussions on different cultural, religious, and political walks—such as the Najaf to Karbala pilgrimage and the Great March of Return—as powerful expressions of collective aspirations. Our goal was to use maps and stamps to visualise these journeys and their significance across diverse cultures.​

Our research explores various historical and contemporary walks of resistance, resilience, and spiritual significance, highlighting their cultural, political, and social dimensions. For our research we focused on five specific walks: the Great March of Return in Gaza, the Long March in China, walks following the Grenfell Tower fire in London, the walk of Santiago in Spain , and the Najaf walk to Karbala. These walks, diverse in their historical and cultural contexts, collectively emphasise the universal human struggle for justice, human rights, and the right to claim space in the face of adversity, illustrating the power of movement to transcend personal, social, and political struggles while fostering global solidarity.

Through looking at maps we wanted to consider the personal and emotive elements of the historical walks we were researching. We began looking at Psychogeography, which brings in the elements of the soul and other factors that are not primarily considered when looking at a map. Instead it begins to look at the emotions of the location and the areas where the walks take place, and what this brings to those interacting with the space. The feeling that an individual place may carry, and the remains of the history which took place began to inform our focus and approach. 

Palestine- The Great March of Return

The Great March of Return was a series of peaceful protests held by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip from March 30, 2018, to December 27, 2019, demanding the right of return for Palestinian refugees displaced since 1948 and the end of the Israeli-imposed blockade on Gaza. The movement, which attracted tens of thousands of unarmed participants, aimed to peacefully assert Palestinian rights through symbolic actions such as waving flags and burning tires. Despite the nonviolent intent, Israeli forces responded with excessive force, resulting in over 220 Palestinian deaths and thousands of injuries, including targeted attacks on protesters’ legs – shooting them in their kneecaps in order to make those standing up against the oppression disabled and posed as a warning to anyone else who dared to protest their freedom.

The protests were a grassroots effort, drawing participants from various backgrounds, including refugees, youth, and the elderly, as well as artists and activists. The movement brought international attention to human rights violations, revived the Palestinian right of return issue, and highlighted the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Despite the violent suppression, the Great March of Return remains a symbol of Palestinian resistance and the struggle for justice.

China- The Long March (1934-1936)

The Long March (1934-1936) was a brutal and arduous strategic retreat by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) during its resistance against the Kuomintang (KMT) under Chiang Kai-shek. It covered 13,000 kilometres, involved over 600 battles, and passed through 13 provinces. Starting with 85,000 people, fewer than 10,000 troops survived by the end, ultimately meeting in the northern Shaanxi base area.

The origins of the conflict trace back to 1927 when the KMT, initially allied with the CCP, betrayed the revolution by attacking workers and communists, resulting in the deaths of 50,000 CCP members. As Japan invaded China, the KMT adopted a policy of non-resistance, allowing imperialist powers to control parts of China, leading to economic collapse and widespread suffering.

In 1933, with German support, the KMT launched the fifth “extermination campaign” to wipe out the CCP, deploying one million troops. Despite internal struggles and defeats, Mao Zedong’s strategies, including guerrilla warfare and a focus on the peasant revolution, gained prominence. After over 600 battles, the CCP successfully reached the northern Shaanxi base, preserving its revolution and leadership under Mao.

Britain- Grenfell Silent Walk

The Grenfell fire erupted in a West London tower block on 14th June 2017, resulting in the deaths of 72 people. This tragedy occurred as a direct result of the councils inaction surrounding the highly flammable cladding that encased the building, that led to the uncontrollable escalation of the fire throughout the building. The inaction and bad advice given to council residents as the fire began has also been accused of adding to the loss of life. It is the worst residential fire in London to occur since the Blitz. 

Every year, a group of survivors and bereaved family members run the Silent Walk, alongside members of the public, and march through the streets surrounding the block, to commemorate those who died and call on further investigation and justice to be dealt by the UK government. 

Among those killed in the fire was British-Gambian photographer Khadija Saye, whos work surrounding themes of faith and diaspora are a beautiful, tangible look inside the life of someone failed by the British state.

Camino of Santiago, Spain

The migration of Latinos to foreign countries is, in many cases, a journey marked by uncertainty and sacrifice. Walking long distances to cross borders, traverse deserts, or navigate bureaucratic obstacles becomes a test of will and determination. In this sense, walking is not just a physical necessity but also a metaphor for the struggle for dignity and the right to a better life. Each step is an act of resistance, a testament to the desire to overcome hardships and build a home far from one’s place of origin.

The Camino de Santiago in Spain offers another example of walking as empowerment. Although this pilgrimage has religious roots, many people undertake it in search of personal growth, emotional healing, or even as a symbolic act of resistance against the alienation of modern life. Along the route, pilgrims face physical and emotional challenges, but each step strengthens their connection with themselves and with others. The experience of the journey teaches that walking is, in itself, an act of transformation—one that allows reconnection with human essence, history, and a sense of community.

In both cases, walking becomes a way to reaffirm identity and resilience. Whether in migration or pilgrimage, every path traveled is an affirmation of the human capacity to face the unknown and move forward. Walking, then, is an act of empowerment—a testament to the courage, faith, and determination of those who seek a different horizon.

Iraq- Arbaeen Pilgrimage

The Najaf to Karbala walk, or Arbaeen pilgrimage, is one of the largest religious gatherings globally, commemorating the 40th day after Imam Hussain’s martyrdom in the Battle of Karbala (680 CE). The journey spans about 80 kilometres (50 miles) from Najaf to Karbala, taking two to three days, with pilgrims walking barefoot as a sign of devotion.

The walk symbolises resistance against oppression, justice, and sacrifice, reflecting Imam Hussain’s values. It also showcases unity and faith, as millions from diverse backgrounds come together. Pilgrims receive hospitality at mukebs, and the pilgrimage has grown into a symbol of global peace, drawing participants from various faiths. Over 20 million pilgrims join annually, making it one of the largest peaceful gatherings in the world.