Gignouxphotos are proud to announce that Alan’s portrait of Mirium Turyasingura has been selected for the Portrait of Britain volume 6 shortlist. We look forward to finding out in January whether it will exhibited on JCDecaux screens across the UK – fingers crossed!
Mirium’s portrait is from our “You can see me, but I don’t exist” project which combines Alan’s portraits of refugees from Birmingham, London, and Manchester with their poetry. During the project we worked with four organisations who provide essential support and advice to refugees like Mirium. They offer a lifeline to people trying to survive while navigating the UK’s complex asylum process, sometimes over years.
The essential work of refugee organisations in the UK
We got the opportunity to see the difference these organisations make on many occasions.
For example, we were there when the Baobab Women’s project helped one of their clients facing imminent eviction find a new home, saving her from becoming homeless.
The first time we met Stephanie from Stories of Hope and Home she was carting around props for a theatre production that she had prepared with the members of her group. This was only one of several productions that she organised during the months when we were working with her organisation.
We got the chance to see how Farai Nhakasino of Everything Human Rights has encouraged music and dance within his group. He seized the opportunity to perform traditional Zimbabwean music and dance wherever possible, including at our exhibition opening in Manchester and at our book launch at the Photographer’s Gallery in London.
We have also seen how JRS’s Hurtado Centre in Wapping provides a focus for the refugee community there with a regular programme of activities organised by Dallya Alhorri.
Most important of all, we witnessed some of the refugees receiving their permission to remain in the UK. In many cases, the advice provided by the refugee organisations was key in helping to make the process as smooth and quick as possible.
Visit the Gignouxphotos shop
If you would like to help these organisations to continue doing their incredible work, please visit the Gignouxphotos shop and buy one of our products supporting these charities. You can choose between a 10×8 print of Mirium’s portrait, a limited-edition screen-printed poster with a line from one of the refugee’s poems – “Remember, Show Love” or a tote bag printed with the same message. Proceeds from all sales will be added together and divided equally between the four organisations.
Share this...