We launch Season 4 with a special episode recorded live during Refugee Week in collaboration with Counterpoints Arts! The conversation brought together 3 renowned artists Laura Nyahuye, Ghafar Tajmohammad, and Olga Tkachenko, together, we spoke about the place of art in mental health recovery, along with resilience and it’s limitations in each of the artists’ contexts; from addressing social issues through art, to the Afghan diaspora experience, and finally escaping war in Ukraine.

In this episode, we are lucky to include music by USTAVI, who also performed during the event.

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About

Laura Nyahuye is a creative visionary. Born and raised in Zimbabwe, based in Coventry, UK. Heavily influenced by her African heritage, Laura’s creative practice spans spoken word, poetry, a palette of textures. In her work she addresses social issues affecting women and migrant communities such as marginalisation, discrimination and under-representation.

Born in Pakistan, Ghafar Tajmohammad is of Afghan heritage and was displaced as a small child. He grew up in Southeast London, Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Painting at Camberwell College of Arts and works as a Curatorial Assistant at the Migration Museum. His recent exhibition, Afghani War Rugs Reimagined, ran at Yorkton Workshops from 19-24 June.

Olga Tkachenko is a Ukrainian multidisciplinary artist and visual designer, mostly working with media such as collage, participatory projects, installation and media art. The topics important to Olga are human vulnerability, its reflexivity, personal stories, interaction with others and with the world, and the creative manifestations of the individual. She is currently Bosla Arts’ artist-in-residence.

USTAVI a Syrian lawyer, violinist, social entrepreneur, and founder of Antika Culture & Diaspora CIC. He has degrees in music , law, and a MSc in Migration Studies. USTAVI was born in Aleppo, Syria and has been living in the UK since 2019. He remains committed to his roots by bringing Arabic music to international audiences.

​A leading national organisation in the field of arts, migration and cultural change, Counterpoints Arts’ mission is to support and produce the arts by and about migrants and refugees, seeking to ensure that their contributions are recognised and welcomed within UK arts, history and culture.

Images: Paul Gilbey