Curated by Diana Ali at Art Center Caravel, ARTE.M Association, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal 2024 & Arthall, Victoria, Gozo, Malta 2025

Concept:

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.

Exhibition information/Flyer:

Exhibition information/Flyer:

UPDATE 2024

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. BUT Now to tour to Malta 2025......

Local press publicity (Madeira)

Local press publicity (Madeira)
Cultura JM (Journalist: Catarina Gouveia)

Featured artists:

Sarah Linda Cassels (Republic of South Africa living in the UK)

'The Scarlet Letter'

(Digital Photograph 2022, (1) 22.5 x 33 cm • (2) 55.5 x 88.5 cm)

During the Pandemic, our daily lives were curtailed, and we felt we had no say or control of our lives. The individual had no ownership of their personhood and restrictions were in place to restrict our movements to one hour a day. Many people lost their jobs. 

Being a migrant, a mature student living on a Student and maintenance loan, and my children excluded from any help because of zero–hour contracts, our being excluded due to visa stipulations, we felt overlooked and neglected. 

The photographs are a response, a provocation, a plea for answers even. 

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