51³Ô¹Ï

Interwoven: Refugee murals across borders

Photo Artolution

This exhibition presents artworks and murals by refugees and host communities in refugee camps, conflict zones and crisis affected communities across the world. The murals were created through a collaborative process, travelling from different locations and refugee camps where refugees and host communities contributed to their creation. The result is a collection of murals depicting interweaving narratives and imagery that showcase the struggles, perseverance and creative joy of people forced to flee their home because of war, conflict, persecution or human rights violations.

The exhibit stands as a global call for collective solidarity with and for millions of refugees, internally displaced and stateless people. It is also a testament to the incredible talents and diverse skills that people forced to flee bring to the communities that welcome them, including in the art field. These murals reflect their powerful stories and hopes for the future.

In 2022, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and Artolution solidified a global partnership to bring the medium of mural creation to forcibly displaced people around the world. Through the transformative and healing power of art, refugees tell their own stories, share their lived experiences and shape their own lives. In taking forward this partnership, Artolution and the UN Refugee Agency seek to build hope away from home for all people forced to flee, one mural at a time.

The Rohingya Blessing for the Future of the Seas by Amphritrite, Magwayen and Yem?ja

Cox¡¯s Bazar, Bangladesh

A woman loading crates full of handpick oysters onto the boat

Partners: Artolution, Chime For Change, Gucci Equilibrium

The collaborative artwork captures the shared cultural significance of water as a source of life, particularly poignant for Rohingya refugees who crossed the Naf river to escape violence in Myanmar. The piece memorializes their connection to water and overcoming environmental challenges through the symbolic imagery of three golden seahorses adorned with patterns representing global sea protectors like Anthirdite, Magwayen, and Yemoja. It seeks to amplify the voices of people forcibly displaced from home and evokes a universal narrative of resilience and multiculturalism. It was created by Rohingya refugee children in Cox¡¯s Bazar, Bangladesh.

Global Community Personalities

Bangladesh - Uganda

Water Seascapes

Partners: Artolution, UNHCR Bangladesh, UNHCR Uganda, Education Above All

The painting, adorned with traditional Rohingya patterns inspired by Henna drawings, features a prominent blue helicopter symbolizing the weaponization of aircraft. This is meant to reflect the conflict that forced Rohingya refugees from their homes. In the center, a bus also represents the importance of the right to freedom of movement. The artwork was initially created in Bangladesh by Rohingya refugees. It was then brought to a refugee settlement in Uganda where South Sudanese refugees added to it, before the mural returned to Bangladesh. It is an international collaborative effort, with the aim of fostering empathy and understanding through shared visual narratives and cultural symbols. It was created by approximately 30 Rohingya and South Sudanese children in Bangladesh and Uganda.

Fabric of Women¡¯s Resilience

Bangladesh - Greece - Jordan - Uganda

Two women harvesting seaweed

Partners: Artolution, UNHCR Bangladesh, UNHCR Uganda, UNICEF Jordan

Crafted by South Sudanese refugee women, this traditional bark cloth embarked on a global journey. In each location visited, refugees and host communities added to the mural representing visual displays of specific themes of importance to them. This included promoting maternal healthcare in Bangladesh, challenging gender stereotypes in Jordan, sharing personal narratives in Greece, and highlighting women's connections to their communities in Uganda. This collaborative artwork emphasizes the power of storytelling to unite diverse women who are advocating for equity and to provide a platform for them to express their extraordinary lives and perspectives through art. It was created by approximately 12 Rohingya, Syrian, Afghan and South Sudanese refugee women.

Chaos Within

Irpin, Ukraine - Santa Marta, Colombia - New York, USA

Two women harvesting seaweed

Partners: Artolution, World Economic Forum, UNHCR, MEDAIR, UNIQLO

This artwork was started by Venezuelan refugees and migrants and internally displaced Colombians in Santa Marta, Colombia. The artwork was then brought to the Sytnyaky Icyeum Primary School outside of Irpin, Ukraine, which had been bombed. This mural was part of the rehabilitation of the school. Depicted are handprints of Ukrainian children. The final artworks were then painted by homeless children in New York. The ¡°black hole¡± in the middle of the mural represents "all the sadness in the world.¡± However, the mural also represents the joy that connecting through creativity was able to bring to them. It was created by Ukrainian, Venezuelan, Colombian and American children across all locations.

The Colour of Resilience Unseen: The Wing of Hope

Irpin, Ukraine - Azraq Syrian Refugee Camp, Jordan - New York, USA

Fishes on a boat

Partners: Artolution,World Economic Forum, UNHCR, MEDAIR, UNIQLO

The long scroll-like artworks were part of a much larger series of murals created in four different refugee camps around the world as part of the Colour of Resilience project. These sections reflect the stories and lives of Syrian refugees in Azraq Refugee camp in Jordan. The artworks were then brought to the Sytnyaky Icyeum Primary School outside of Irpin, Ukraine, which had been bombed. The mural is part of the rehabilitation of the school. The final artworks were then brought to the United States and painted by homeless children in New York as a global exchange connecting children from across the world. Ukrainian, Syrian, and Palestinian refugees as well as host community members in Jordan, and American youth and children contributed to its creation.

The Colour of Resilience Unseen: From the Stars to Home

Irpin, Ukraine - Santa Marta, Colombia - New York, USA

Two women harvesting seaweed

Partners: Artolution,World Economic Forum, UNHCR, MEDAIR, UNIQLO

The long scroll-like artworks were part of a much larger series of murals created in four different refugee camps around the world as part of the Colour of Resilience project. The artworks were started in Santa Marta, Colombia and then brought to Ukraine, before finally heading to the United States where they were finalized by homeless children and families living in New York City. Combining blue tones and bright colors creates a cool environment and seeks to showcase that amidst the most impossible of diffculties, the arts can be a single candle in the middle of the darkness. Venezuelan refugees and migrants, internally displaced people in Colombia, Ukrainians who are internally displaced and refugees and American children contributed to its creation.

The Vehicle of Memory

Balukhali Refugee Camp, Bangladesh - BidiBidi Refugee Settlement, Uganda

Partners: Artolution, UNHCR Bangladesh, UNHCR Uganda, BRAC

This artwork was created on a discarded rice food distribution bag in the BidiBidi Refugee settlement in Uganda. Participants painted images of their homes and their villages in Yei, Waw, and Malakal in South Sudan. The food distribution bag was then brought to a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh where children were inspired by this imagery to draw traditional folklore patterns, the helicopter they remember when they fled, and their images of home. The exchange shows the eternal connection to home and the bond among communities in displacement situations, as well as refugees¡¯ hope for a meaningful future. Rohingya and South Sudanese refugee children and artists contributed to its creation.

The Boat of Home

Balukhali Refugee Camp, Bangladesh - BidiBidi Refugee Settlement, Uganda

Partners: Artolution, UNHCR Bangladesh, UNHCR Uganda, BRAC

The painting started in the BidiBidi Refugee Settlement in Uganda, home to hundreds of thousands of refugees from South Sudan. The imagery reflects cows and their bonding connection across different cultural groups, and cars representing the importance of access to travel. The recycled food distribution bag was then brought to Bangladesh, where it was painted by Rohingya refugees on Bhasan Char Island. The outline of a pink boat reflects how they arrived, and it also features traditional henna patterns painted by girls from the local community. The challenges to freedom of movement are a common connection shared by many people forced to flee. Rohingya and South Sudanese refugee children and artists contributed to its creation.

Play in the Midst of Chaos

Balukhali Refugee Camp, Bangladesh - BidiBidi Refugee Settlement, Uganda

Partners: Artolution, UNHCR Bangladesh, UNHCR Uganda, BRAC

This artwork, painted on a rice food distribution bag, started in the BidiBidi Refugee Settlement in Uganda. Depicting environmental challenges, the piece highlights the importance of planting trees and taking climate action. It was then transported to Bhasan Char Island in Bangladesh where Rohingya refugees contributed to the mural with imagery depicting the importance of play, sports, and joy, as well as memories of home in Rakhine State. Rohingya and South Sudanese refugee children and artists contributed to its creation.

The Dragon of Home

Mangateen, Juba, South Sudan - Irpin, Ukraine

Partners: Artolution, MEDAIR

This artwork was started in Bethel Primary School in Juba, South Sudan. The children painted their stories of home, their church and the roads they walk every day to get to school in the Mangateen neighborhood on the outskirts of Juba. The hand-woven fabric was then brought to Ukraine where children from the Synyaky Primary School painted their dreams for the future. The collaborative mural creation was part of a project to rehabilitate their school after it was bombed and destroyed. The children painted a dragon of protection and their dreams of a ¡°clear sky¡±, where no bombs will fall. South Sudanese and Ukrainian children participated in the mural creation.

The Creature of Home

Balukhali Refugee Camp, Bangladesh - BidiBidi Refugee Settlement, Uganda

Partners: Artolution, UNHCR Bangladesh, UNHCR Uganda

This artwork originally began its journey in Uganda where South Sudanese refugees painted imagery on a food distribution bag. Using bright colors, the refugee artists depicted chickens, a football pitch, memories of home and the tools needed to take care of the land. When it was then brought to Balukhali Refugee Camp in Bangladesh, Rohingya refugees added images of people and children across the top of the piece in an exploration of identity.

Short List of all entities involved in creating the murals

  • Artolution
  • UNHCR Bangladesh
  • UNHCR Uganda
  • UNIQLO USA and Fast Retailing
  • MEDAIR
  • Chime for Change / Gucci Equilibrium
  • UNICEF
  • Education Above All
  • GIZ

UNHCR and Artolution Films

#Withrefugees #WorldRefugeeDay

Twitter: @Refugees

This exhibit was launched in June 2024

Local category: