SOLA arts has been working for many years on creative projects with people from displaced backgrounds. Made of Stars was a collaboration of artists involved with SOLA that brought their journeys into new public spaces. Its impact is documented here.
Asylum and its secrets engulf our social and official discourse, especially the media. But is there anyone diving into the depths to discover the stories and experiences of refugees from the inside. To share their daily lives after they reach what is believed to be a safe haven.
The film project which bears the name of Made Of Stars strained to open this sealed box. In this, we believe that it has a difference from many other artistic projects that deal with immigration and asylum issues.
The messages that the artists wanted to send to this world are expressed within videos to create a film document that encourages dialogue. This film then uses ground-breaking technology to deliver its message, building a movable metal pyramid 30 feet high so that its four sides form the screens on which the film is shown after the viewer enters the pyramid. It has been taken to many places across Merseyside with the focus on reaching many new audiences.
The audience are enclosed within a real story. One story. Many stories. A fellow traveler on a refugee journey. The start of a new journey. A point on a journey that never ends.
We present Made Of Stars here in the words of some of those artists involved alongside pictures from the event
Fawaz Almotlak
Jabbar: A SMILE IS A BALM FOR THESE DEEP WOUNDS
The first day I arrived at the immigration window, I felt fear and anguish, but I kept hoping and having the courage to save my family. I saw hope when I saw the friendliness of the staff, although I felt guilty for violating their laws to enter this country. The different entities have been very kind and that facilitates the integration since they treat you with dignity and remind you of your value. Personally, I will be fine when they give me a positive response to my application and I am allowed to work. I prefer not to go out much because I feel ashamed to be living for free and that is not in my principles. That generates horrible anxiety in me, like many who are used to working hard. I saw the MADE OF STARS project as an opportunity to put my skills at the service of others. I never saw it as an opportunity to shout my feelings, but in the end, it was like that.
I have a degree in “communications”, therefore this project gave me an enormous experience never thought of in my life as a professional. I could do better. My English is not very good but there were huge emotions experienced in this project. The message that all those who are respected with their human rights and dignity should know is that outside of this world there are so many enslaved by tyrants in the middle of the 21st century. That most do not leave their homeland, their families, their friends and even their parents. Coming to make you uncomfortable or embarrassed in another country. We do it as the last hope of living a little freedom and dignity. No one is obligated to help, but sometimes a smile or an answering greeting is a balm for those deep wounds of the soul. In this country, you get support to recover your strength, your health, your happiness, but happiness is complete when you are given the opportunity to demonstrate by working, that you are not a burden, that you are capable of repaying so much kindness and support that you have received, that, that is the piece that is missing, that tiny part of the puzzle of a value that only belongs to every human being and is called dignity. Thank you UK people for helping me walk towards that warm light that I can now see on the horizon.
Alex: WE ARE NOT A PLAGUE. WE JUST WANT TO LIVE WITH DIGNITY
At the first I was very excited, because it was my first moment in another country and I felt that emotion like a tourist. All people I dealt with were very kind and supportive, even those who helped us when we arrived to UK. It’s not been easy. I think I’m not completely integrated, but I keep trying and the people keep giving me that security I need.
I felt very excited to participate in MADE OF STARS, doing something I like, obviously first time I felt very nervous, but all people made me feel better and I really enjoyed the processes, from filming and photography, to seeing the project finished. It helped me to visit some places that I never visited before, go back to London some hours, and put in practice my little experience of dancing. Now I participate in a dance group that makes me feel happy and helps me to de- stress.
The message that I want to send? We are not bad people, we are not a plague, we are just humans who want to live our lives with dignity. You can find people who came here whose professions are doctor, engineering, artist. In our countries we don’t have the opportunity to live well, to live free, but here we find that.
Elia: WE INVITE THE AUDIENCE TO SEARCH FOR CHANGE TOGETHER.
I am a social activist who has been allowed artistic expression. To be a part of real change my work has to be striking, has to be a part of the beauty I want to see. But it must also challenge. It questions what we have been told is possible by the media. It invites the audience to understand what I have seen and to search for change together. My work explores the possibilities of peace and unity in the world.
After witnessing the brutality in Iran, I felt relieved to flee the regime. Then I was told they could send me back to Iran. Fear and anxiety of deportation brought nightmares and flash backs. I was feeling hopeless and desperate. I was not familiar with culture, language and environment and it was hard to adapt. With no official documents, without permission to leave a certain area and detained at some points. I was told you are here to take our benefits, or I was asked how big is the house you are living! With no permission to study nor work in the UK, organisations such as Sola Arts helped me to find an ear for my daily struggles. To heal my anxiety through art therapy.
MADE OF STARS gave me an opportunity to express my art through imagination, be part of a project to explore togetherness with other artists. There are always bad rumours about refugees and asylum seekers in the UK. With this project we can invite the audience to understand and to search for change together.
When I allowed myself the freedom of art, this project created the passion within my work. These images and emotions formed a desire for change. Although my ideas are global, my work reflects living through the suppression of free speech in Iran, as well as the horror of seeing friends executed or displaced. Bringing change to my home country of Iran is my desire and infuses every action of my life as an artist and activist.
Noel: IT REINFORCED A SENSE OF BELONGING
It was a privilege to take part in the MADE OF STARS project. This came as a recognition of my potential to impact on people around me and as a serious responsibility in promoting a better future. I was excited about the given opportunity to contribute to a cause that is important to me. It gave me a sense of pride in knowing that my work and ideas can inspire other people. The overall project was a fulfilling experience, including working along with talented artists to address current challenges and create an inclusive community.
The theme of the project itself was the stimulating one. The process allowed me to push boundaries by exploring new art forms and convey messages to a wide community. It helped me to gain a deeper understanding of current challenges such as global climate change and environmental disasters. By exploring new ideas and themes, I was able to find meaningful ways to bring a vision to life, sharing this view with others.
The project also provided opportunities for professional growth through collaboration with other artists. For example, the immersive pyramid and visual projection mapping inspired me to use this emerging technology and new art realms. The project process reinforced a sense of belonging and created a strong connection with the community.
Art is a powerful tool for communicating ideas and inspiring change. The ultimate end goal of my piece was to promote sustainability and the importance of protecting the environment and living in harmony with nature. so, I created a computer-generated walk-though and various visual models as an illustration of awareness of environmental issues.
My work showcases the benefits of living sustainably, the importance of reducing waste, and protecting natural resources. The power of individual actions and collective efforts to create a more sustainable future. Made of Stars provided a platform to send a message and inspire communities to protect the planet and create a better future for generations to come.
Monira: WE ARE LIVING UNDER ONE SKY AND ABOVE OF ONE EARTH
I arrived in the UK on 9 July 2022. It was the first day of Ebrihm Eid. It is really difficult to talk about my feeling in words, but to be honest, I was double happy for celebration of the Eid and to have arrived in the UK safely with my family. It was a nice day for me. I wore my new clothes and visited new people in the hotel. I had a nice time with them the whole day. They asked lots of questions about my travel, family, how I came to the UK. It was a good day for me. We had good unity.
I heard about MADE OF STARS from Grace and Catherine who were working in Sola Arts that day. I had an excited and strange feeling. I wasn’t thinking about anything, I just thought what is MADE OF STARS? Where will it be? Who will I meet? Lots of questions came and went in my mind. When I started working with them, it was quite difficult for me to ask questions about the project. Finally, I knew I can’t be silent when I don’t understand the issues well. So, I asked lots of questions and they kindly answered all. Then I understood everything about the project. The time I had with them was great and I have a happy feeling with those active, patient and kind people.
When I arrived in the UK, I wrote an article. Sometimes I write about my feelings, dreams, country and the pain of people. So, I introduced myself in the project as an Afghan refugee woman writer and I talked about my dreams there. I have got good experiences by joining this project and I will use from this in my personal experience in the future. I learnt lots of good things from the team, such as how to manage wellbeing and have good patience with all members of the team. It was a nice experience for me. A golden moment of my life.
My message to all people of the world through this is we are human and we should always try to do goodness for the humans in the world and nature. If you do goodness to all, it will come back to you.
We are living under one sky and above of one earth, just our situation is different. Please don’t do discrimination in any place of the world you are living. Please, love yourself and others and be a useful and creative person. Always be kind and go ahead. Be an opener of doors for the human of the world.