Setting Off…

Whether its young people starting off on life’s adventure, migrant workers leaving their home country, asylum seekers entrusting themselves to the waves or every one of us plodding along the road day by day – we’re all on life’s journey.

Setting off on life’s journey challenges our resilience, our character and our identity. But that journey embodies our dreams, fills us with hope and enables us to discover our true values. As fellow travellers it is our privilege to share our gifts and our wisdom with each other along the way.

This exhibition, which was produced by Artlink Hull, coordinated by Siddi Majubah, and funded by Absolutely Cultured and Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, celebrates the creative journeys of four groups that have met in workshops over the last few months. We are invited to set off on a journey together with them all. A journey of admiration, mutual respect and self-discovery.

The Warren

The Warren’s SHOUT group of LGBTQIA+ young people worked with ceramicist Jen Holtridge of Quite Contrary Pottery to produce ceramic sculptures inspired by emotional support plushies, animations and media, which become totems representing something incredibly personal to the individuals; comfort, resilience, and even in some cases a reason to stay alive.

Welcome House

Welcome House, which gives a welcome to asylum seekers, has an arts group run by volunteer artists Richard Lees, Maria Lofthouse, Jane Stow and Wendy Bennett. The group has created a seascape hanging and model boat to represent the journeys people have taken. Additionally, they worked with printer Fraser Briggs to screen-print shirts for their football teams, celebrating the delight and skills they share in sports and playing together.

Hull Afro Caribbean Association (HACA)

Hull Afro Caribbean Men’s Group have worked with David Okwesia to produce a radio/podcast play and music around the African Mami Wata stories, reflecting on the hazards of the journeys many have taken to come to Hull. The group will perform the play in Space 2 at Humber Street Gallery on Sunday 26 May, at 2pm.

Open Doors

Open Doors gives advice and support to asylum seekers. The open group there met with Glynis Neslen and others for drawing, painting and photography workshops. The group, which often included children, has produced some touching and powerful images of people and places left behind, along with expressions of hope and strength for the future.

Our thanks to The Warren, Welcome House, Hull Afro Caribbean Men’s Group and Open Doors who took part in the workshops and to Hull Truck Theatre for providing rehearsal space.