Who are we?
‘Connecting Cultures: Art a message to humanity’ -
is a group of artists from the refugee and asylum seeker communities who live
and
work in Merseyside.
This collective was set up in 2006 and is run by SOLA ARTS, which is
a community arts and non-for profit organisation based in Toxteth,
Liverpool.
Through ‘Connecting Cultures’ exiled
artists who come from a variety of backgrounds and cultures are able
to showcase their
artwork.
Due to its unique nature within Merseyside, the collective acts as
a platform for artists who otherwise would find it difficult to exhibit
or perform to different communities in mainstream galleries/venues,
thus enabling the artists to reach wider audiences.
It also provides participants with ongoing opportunities such as commissions,
collaborations with other local and international artists as well as
career support and development.
Key to ‘Connecting Cultures’ is its
interest in promoting and supporting the integration of artists from
the collective within
the wider community.
Since its creation, the collective has organised
its own exhibitions, screenings and performances in different venues
around Liverpool such
as The Egg Café, 52 Metaconceptual gallery, the former Urban
Café Lounge or Toxteth Town Hall.
Members of the collective were also involved in the Liverpool Biennial
International Arts Festival in 2006, working alongside international
visual artists.
The collective has been part of other bigger events
such as the Exodus Film Festival in Manchester for Refugee Week 2007
and the WOMAD festival
and is currently getting ready to take part in the Brouhaha Street
Festival with a performance at the Mela Stage on August 4 at the ‘World
in Princes Park’ event.
The collective is ever expanding and has a constant changing nature,
which is due to the fact that its members are in constant movement.
With a steady but solid expansion, the collective has won plaudits
and raised interest amongst different communities who acknowledge and
recognise the significance of such collective.
Artists from the collective have been commissioned and taken part in
collective exhibitions, performed in different arenas and delivered
workshops in festivals such as WOMAD 07.
‘Connecting Cultures’ brings to Merseyside a wealth of
talent and skills from a range of countries and its contribution to
Liverpool arts scene enhances Liverpool’s status of a city that
is gearing towards Capital of Culture.
The collective has ambitious plans for 2008 so expect to hear more
from this exciting bunch.
Artists profiles:
Abdillahi Awad
Abdillaahii is a writer, poet and storyteller from Somaliland.
He has published a number of books and poems.
Abdillaahii’s writing reflect his experiences as part of the
Somali diaspora, often with a sharp and ironic twist designed to create
a reaction on the reader.
His public readings are sometimes adorned with Somali singing that
spectacularly enhance his performances.
Azad Neheli
Azad is originally from Kurdistan and has been playing the ‘Sas’,
a traditional Kurdish instrument, since he was 16 years old.
He sees himself not as a professional but as an ‘aficionado’ who
through his music is able to show us the cultural baggage of a country
whose history has been neglected over the centuries.
Azad’s mesmerising music creates a relaxing atmosphere which
is ideal to introduce ‘Connecting Cultures’ performances.
John Bernard
John is a self-taught painter from Liberia who has been involved in ‘Connecting
Cultures’ since the collective was created in 2006.
His style and the themes used are heavily influenced by his experiences
both in his country and in England.
For John, painting seems to be a vital necessity that helps him express
his feelings in a way that other means can’t.
Mygenet Tshaye
Mygenet is a journalist and poet from Ethiopia whose writing is concerned
about issues such as freedom of speech and in particular with freedom
of the press, something that has a strong presence in her poetry
and journalism.
She has been part of a number of performances and exhibitions with ‘Connecting
Cultures’.
Ouardia Rabia
Ouardia is a Berber from Algeria whose involvement in the project is
through her specialism in working with textiles, a skill she acquired
in her native country, where working with textiles is a widespread
cultural practice amongst Berber women.
Her work with ‘Connecting Cultures’ is based on the idea
of freedom expressed through different Berber symbols; through her
artwork, she is also able to raise awareness about the Berber people.
Tenzin Yonten
A traditional Tibetan painter, Tenzin specialises in the art of making
Thankhas, Tibetan paintings depicting Buddhist deities.
Tenzin is an active member of ‘Connecting Cultures’,
which he helped to set up in 2006 and has taken part in a number
of exhibitions
in Liverpool and London.
He is currently interested in further developing his film-making and
graphic design skills.
Dilshad
Said Tahir
Dilshad is a singer and traditional ‘Sas’ player from Kurdistan who has been performing in different community events both in Kurdistan
and England.
Since joining ‘Connecting Cultures’ he has performed in
a series of events across Liverpool as well as being able to meet and
perform with other local artists.
Text copyrighted to SOLA
ARTS