Refugees showcase their artwork in new exhibition

A black and white charcoal drawing of a young boy from Kenya with dark skin with his hands clasped in front of him in what looks like a pleading pose and with his face almost desperately pleading, with his eyes closed and mouth open.
In a thought bubble beside him is a bowl of food, showing what he is wishing for.
The sketch shows him wearing a black vest and there is what looks like a sun in the sky. — Image caption,
Artists at the Kakuma Art Project in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya, created the work which will be shown in Salisbury

Alexandra Bassingham

BBC News, West of England

4 hours ago

An exhibition showcasing the art of refugees in Kenya in which they tell their "extraordinary" stories is opening in Wiltshire.

Refugees created the work at the Kakuma Art Project in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya, will be shown at Vanner Gallery in Salisbury.

Tara Dominick, a fine artist from Devon, is involved with the group and said they had opened her eyes "to the extraordinary stories that refugees carry".

The Power of One Painting exhibition opens on Sunday and continues on Monday.

A selection of the artists at the Kakuma Art Project in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya. They are wearing casual clothes, with many in jeans, and shirts, T-shirts and hoodies in different colours, including red, blue, pink and white.
There are 14 pictures being held up that show their own stories of being a refugee, with the pictures ranging from showing hope, hunger, prayers and journeys.
They stand in front of a building with blue poles and made of wood. — Image caption,
Artists living at the Kakuma camp are being offered support through the Kakuma Art Project

The Kakuma Art Project was inspired by a painting by Ms Dominick named Boat which showed refugees packed onto a boat at sea.

It started a conversation between Ms Dominick and Hubert Senya at the camp and the art project was founded.

Ms Dominick said it provides artists at the camp with education, visibility, and opportunity, which is supported by a series of workshops.

She said it had been "profoundly moving" to see their experiences expressed through the visual medium of art "and to witness how healing it is for them to be truly seen and heard through their work".

A picture in colour by Kuachi Gai showing two hands, one holding a torch giving off a flame and then vibrant rainbow shards of light. The hands are caught up in a black net. — Image caption,
Ms Dominick said getting to know the refugees and seeing their art work had opened her eyes to their "extraordinary stories"

Kakuma camp is home to about 300,000 refugees from different African countries who "fled famine, persecution and conflict," Ms Dominick said.

"[So] the opportunity for them to be exhibited here in the UK at The Vanner Gallery is more than miraculous."

"I would not have thought one painting could impact quite so many lives, not just the refugees but also the community of wonderful supporters here in the UK, who made a bespoke art gallery at the camp possible," she said.

The whole process had supported the artists to become more confident which was "extremely heart-warming", she added.