Stella VOLPE, «From invisibility to representation. Difficulties, issues and prospects of an unprecedented experiment involving the non-citizens, designed and produced by the «Roman laboratory», K@iros, 8 - Visibility and invisibility of migrants in contemporary societies, November 2025. ISSN : 2492-1599

Article summary:

Our study aims to shed light on the dynamics at work in the processes of invisibilisation and visibilisation of a given category of people, in this case migrants, within contemporary societies.

Both invisibilisation and visibilisation processes can have contradictory effects. They can occur in different spaces and move from one space to another. Invisibility and visibility can thus be social, statistical, geographical, media-related, political, legal, etc. Invisibility and visibility can be experienced negatively by migrants in different spaces.

By analysing an «extra-ordinary» initiative, implemented by the «Roman laboratory», aimed at resolving the problem of invisibility or visibility suffered by migrants, we show 1) how migrants can manage to make themselves visible of their own free will through approaches that make them representable through their participation, 2) how they can take part in an operation to produce visibility as key players in their representation.

Several points emerge from our analysis. In particular, our study tends to demonstrate that visibility and representation are closely linked. It shows how people can help to make themselves visible by participating in the representation processes that help to make them visible. These processes require adequate resources and means if they are to run smoothly. Our study also highlights the importance of effective communication and mobilisation, appropriate to the circumstances, in achieving this objective.

Key words: visibility, representation, communication, mobilisation, migrants

Keywords: visibility, representation, communication, mobilization, migrants

Link to the full article