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Gillian Allard
Yana & Sofiia - Ukraine Refugee Stories 2022 (later addition to the original project)
The mother and daughter arrived in Suffolk in April 2022. I worked with them to produce an artwork that reflected their connection and experience since fleeing Kiev.
Photograph hand bonded to OSB 110cm x 96cm - finished in acrylic and varnish.
Photograph hand bonded to OSB 110cm x 96cm - finished in acrylic and varnish.
Yana and Sofiia writing their words in Ukranian and English onto the artwork.
They wrote: 'the war tore apart our families but, they cannot separate our hearts".
They wrote: 'the war tore apart our families but, they cannot separate our hearts".
Rifaii's Poem - Syria - Refugee Stories - 2018 (later addition to the original project)
Rafaii worked at La Tour Cycle Cafe, Ipswich where the original series was exhibited during the PhotoEast Festival. I met him in late 2018. We decided to create an artwork that told of his separation from his siblings, since fleeing Syria - who are scattered across the globe.
Photograph hand bonded to OSB - finished with graffiti paints and varnish.
120cm x95cm
The image was used as the entrance piece for a British Museum spot exhibition celebrating the Lampedusa Cross at Ipswich Museum 2022.
Photograph hand bonded to OSB - finished with graffiti paints and varnish.
120cm x95cm
The image was used as the entrance piece for a British Museum spot exhibition celebrating the Lampedusa Cross at Ipswich Museum 2022.
Rifaii adapted a well known Syrian poem and wrote in Arabic on the image. He then asked me to write the translation in English at the bottom:
"They say "when will we meet"
I say, "after a year and a war"
They say, "when will the war end"
I say, "when we meet"...
"They say "when will we meet"
I say, "after a year and a war"
They say, "when will the war end"
I say, "when we meet"...
Mina - Ipswich, UK - Refugee Stories - PhotoEast Festival 2018
Photograph hand bonded to OSB - finished with graffiti paints.
Approx 120cm x95cm
Approx 120cm x95cm
Mina at home with her wooden portrait. She had just added her tiny hand and foot prints to the bottom of the image in red and gold paint.
Additional story from the family: "My name is Mina I am 2 years and 2 months old. I am the younger sister of two brothers. My parents and grandparents are all from Kurdistan but I was born in Ipswich, UK. I am a 'Daddy's Girl'."
Additional story from the family: "My name is Mina I am 2 years and 2 months old. I am the younger sister of two brothers. My parents and grandparents are all from Kurdistan but I was born in Ipswich, UK. I am a 'Daddy's Girl'."
Humam - Syria - Refugee Stories - PhotoEast Festival 2018
Photograph hand bonded to OSB - finished with graffiti paints.
Approx 120cm x95cm
Approx 120cm x95cm
Detail of Humam writing on his portrait.
Caption written on the artwork reads:
"Syria my love, Damascus from you the mother of civilisations,
Get back your warmth and heal my deep wounds.
Get back to my neighbourhood, my school and bring back the ink, chalks and books.
You’re the priceless diamond,
You’re the paradise on earth,
You’re everything beautiful…."
Caption written on the artwork reads:
"Syria my love, Damascus from you the mother of civilisations,
Get back your warmth and heal my deep wounds.
Get back to my neighbourhood, my school and bring back the ink, chalks and books.
You’re the priceless diamond,
You’re the paradise on earth,
You’re everything beautiful…."
Arya - Kurdistan/Iraq - Refugee Stories - PhotoEast Festival - 2018
Photograph hand bonded to OSB - finished with graffiti paints.
Approx 120cm x95cm
Approx 120cm x95cm
Detail of Arya writing on the artwork - 2018
She wrote: "This beautiful Kohl bottle is a gift from my mother in Iraq. She bought it for me a year ago. It is very precious to me. Sometimes I use it for putting on my eye make-up for special occasions."
She wrote: "This beautiful Kohl bottle is a gift from my mother in Iraq. She bought it for me a year ago. It is very precious to me. Sometimes I use it for putting on my eye make-up for special occasions."
Teenage Boys - Sudan - Refugee Stories - PhotoEast Festival - 2018
Photographic print bonded to OSB - finished with graffiti paints.
Approx 120cm x95cm
Approx 120cm x95cm
Detail of a teenage Sudanese boys writing on behalf of himself and his friend: "When I was little my father always told me that happiness was the key to life. But it is not easy to be far away from your family and continue a happy life.
If you don’t have an experience that living without family then you wouldn’t know the meaning of sadness. Especially if you don’t know where your family is."
If you don’t have an experience that living without family then you wouldn’t know the meaning of sadness. Especially if you don’t know where your family is."
Asrin & Mina - Kurdistan/Iran & Ipswich UK - Refugee Stories - PhotoEast Festival 2018
"My name is Asrin, I am from Eastern Kurdistan, which is located in the country of Iran.
I travelled to the UK with my family when I was 14 years old. It was a difficult journey. I am very pleased to live in a safe country now and I am the mother of 3 kids. I still wear my traditional clothes because my culture and nationality are still very important to me."
Photograph hand bonded to OSB ply board - finished with graffiti paints.
Approx 120cm x95cm
I travelled to the UK with my family when I was 14 years old. It was a difficult journey. I am very pleased to live in a safe country now and I am the mother of 3 kids. I still wear my traditional clothes because my culture and nationality are still very important to me."
Photograph hand bonded to OSB ply board - finished with graffiti paints.
Approx 120cm x95cm
Naela - Refugee Stories - Kurdistan/Iraq - PhotoEast Festival 2018
Naela wrote:"I came here from Iraq to the UK because I am married. I am very sad to leave my country and my family but my husband
and I are very happy in the UK. My sister still lives in Iraq, life is very different there because religion and politics are complicated in our society."
Photograph hand bonded to OSB - finished with graffiti paints.
Approx 120cm x95cm
and I are very happy in the UK. My sister still lives in Iraq, life is very different there because religion and politics are complicated in our society."
Photograph hand bonded to OSB - finished with graffiti paints.
Approx 120cm x95cm
British Museum, Lampedusa Cross Spotlight Exhibition March - June 2022
'Rifaii's Poem' artwork was copied and used as the entrance image for the spotlight exhibition of the Lampedusa Cross at Ipswich Museum, Suffolk
Lampedusa Cross & Dark Water Burning World - Assam Koubaj
The cross was loaned by the British Museum to partner organisations and exhibited sculptures by Syrian artist Assam Kourbaj - click on the link to find out more.
Photo: © Gillian Allard 2022
Photo: © Gillian Allard 2022
Refugee Stories series was exhibited at St Mary's Aldermary, St Pauls, in collaboration with the Moot Community - March 2019 with the support of Anna Matthews - Le Tour Cycle Cafe, Ipswich.
Photo: © Stanley Anness 2019
Photo: © Stanley Anness 2019
Mina - St Mary's AlderMary - London EC1 - March 2019
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