Hide me, Steal me, Be Nice to me

Curated by Diana Ali at Art Center Caravel, ARTE.M Association, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal 2024.

We are facing many barriers globally where our identities are being bruised, rejected, and turned away. This leaves a tension for bodies, thoughts, and circumstances to be accepted and co-exist. Artists have been invited to contest and question what it means to face barriers. Often our artworks have been declined from being shown and exhibited. This exhibition gives an opportunity for the art to migrate. There may not be a utopia, but there are ways of overcoming barriers. Imagine the artwork being personified. What would it say if it had freedom of movement, no immigration law, finding asylum and a sense of belonging without being displaced? A fantastic array of international artists come together in one space to question, confront and seek sanctuary through their artwork.

Although the fantastic array of international artists would have come together in one space to question, confront and seek sanctuary through their artwork, the exhibition has had to confront a barrier. The artwork has not had a freedom to roam because it has been detained by customs. This current exhibition shows the list of artists whose work has been detained, missing or delayed in customs in Lisbon.