Our platform is dedicated to supporting and empowering artists affected by conflict. But how exactly do we do this? One method of importance is shining a spotlight on their stories and practice.
Two years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting visual artist & designer Alaa Alsaraji through an artist residency, at London-based, P21 Gallery. During my time as curator and programme manager of reACT, I selected Alaa’s proposal for an exhibition during our yearly open call and together we developed her artwork & project Mapping Sanctuaries, into an exhibition.
Mapping Sanctuaries is a series of digital illustrations and sound pieces that were exhibited at P21 gallery and are available to view online. The aim of the project was to examine and celebrate the spaces and places where British Muslims felt a sense of safety, where they feel a sense of belonging, despite living in a context of rising Islamophobia, state surveillance and a rise in hate crimes. We also wanted to bring awareness to the misrepresentation and harmful narratives that exist within British society, combating the notion of stereotypes, while celebrating diverse identities within our society.
The process involved interviewing British Muslims from different backgrounds on what their personal sanctuaries look like and what value they hold. AIaa then illustrated those sanctuaries and turned the interviews into short sound pieces. The illustrations cover a range of different spaces, some chose to talk about more private, domestic spaces, some about a whole street or neighbourhood and the familiarity they felt when immersed in it. The responses from the project beautifully highlight that there isn’t just one Muslim community or experience, but rather diverse unique people, stories, and experiences that share a common belief.
Alaa is a London-based visual artist, designer and creative facilitator. Alaa has worked with various creative and educational organisations as a facilitator delivering workshops to children and adults. Throughout her various roles, her work always seeks to emphasise the value of using creativity as a pedagogical process to address and explore larger issues such as identity, faith and race and the intersections between them.
At Art Represent, we have realised over the years that when audiences actively engage with our artists and artworks, there is a tangible shift in their understanding of that artist and their community. From shifting perceptions away from stereotypes to bringing awareness of a particular region, the social impact of art is evident and powerful.
Art Represent Edu
〰️
Art Represent Edu 〰️
We are therefore excited to be working in collaboration with Alaa on a very exciting upcoming project which explores the themes found in her practice while focusing on scaling the impact of our current work through education.
Stay tuned for an update from Art Represent & Alaa Alsaraji! To learn more about Alaa & Mapping Sanctuaries click here!