This visual essay makes use of sketches and watercolour drawings in order to present an observational study of a hunger strike conducted by undocumented immigrants in a Brussels church in 2021. The study aimed to explore the lived experience of the hunger strikers, focusing on the physical consequences, emotional states and process of the strike. The essay highlights the importance of visibility in gaining public support for a hunger strike. The study adds to existing scholarship on the use of visual methods in social research and highlights the potential of observational drawings as a tool for understanding the experiential aspects of social movements.
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