GRAIN Projects commissioned artist Ngadi Smart to lead workshops with women and their families, at one of Birmingham’s government assigned hotels, and to create a new artwork in response to her experience.  The artist met and collaborated with women and their families to inspire this new work which was made using photography, collage and illustration.

For National Refugee Week and World Refugee Day 2024 the work features on a billboard in Birmingham city centre (Sherlock Street).

The participants were from many different countries, including China, Sudan, India and Turkey, bringing rich cultural references to the creative sessions.   The workshops seemed to give the participants a much needed break and respite from the monotony of the hotel and the reality of their situation.

‘Their stories had an impact on me.  The dreams, families, lives they had to give up, the seemingly endless wait for the results of their applications, which almost seemed like a purgatory to me, as their new lives are unable to start until applications are approved…  

The workshop reinforced my belief that everyone is essentially an artist/creative. I will always remember how some came along and immediately showed off their creative skills, and others, who swore they weren’t creative, but realised they actually were after they started selecting images, cutting, sticking, drawing and collaging.  The children were confident in taking part, with no inhibitions.

For this work, it was important for me to incorporate some of the elements of participant’s family pictures, which they sent to me via mobile phone.   These are included without revealing identities and include children’s hands making a heart shape, and daffodils photographed in a city park, symbolising birth and new beginnings.  I have included the sea and the land as elements for human sustenance, also as references to treacherous and long journeys, and sand timers as symbols of their time which they have given up in leaving a place, and given again in waiting –  all in one lifetime.’ 

Ngadi Smart, Artist

GRAIN Projects commission, supported by Arts Council England, Birmingham City University and Jack Arts.

Ngadi Smart is a Sierra Leonean artist and photographer based between London, U.K and Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Her work draws upon her West African heritage and femininity.  It looks at themes of identity, race, discrimination and the representation of minorities.  She has made work for numerous national and international publications and is the recipient of many awards including Portrait of Humanity 2020, RPS Environmental Award 2020, First Prize Faber & Faber 2020 and The WaterAid & British Journal of Photography Climate Commission 2023.