The Waiting Room is a gate into the complex emotions that migrants experience as they navigate their place in the world. A sort of imaginary isolated room symbolising the feelings we live through the waiting process where Migrants, Asylum Seekers & Refugees who live in the UK wait to receive the Home Office responses and decisions on their cases, living every single day full of worry, despair, exhaustion, pain & longing, despite the need to survive in a new environment. The works on display will depict the intense emotions that come with being away from home and trying to fit into a new culture. Through a blend of photography and digital art, Nosayba, Eman and Abdullrhman created pieces of 4 walls, each wall tells a comparable but diverse story of how humans feel when they are away from their families, home and familiar surroundings.
Copyright © 2023 Eman Diab & Nosayba Sulieman. All rights reserved. No portion of this artwork may be used, displayed or reproduced in any form without written permission from the creators.
My Grandma's Missed Hug
A Vow to limbo
The University of Deliveroo - Postgraduate Certificate fee
A Trial of a one-way ticket to Rwanda
The UN Refugee Agency defines an asylum seeker as someone who has applied for shelter and protection in another country. A refugee is a person who has fled conflict or persecution in their own country. In the year to September 2022, the UK received 72,027 asylum applications, the highest number for nearly 20 years. Of these, more than 17,000 people and their dependants were granted a form of protection, while 55,027 are still waiting!
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-61782866
I say to the radio..tell her I am fine
What have we reaped?
For us to die twice
once in life
and once while we’re alive
Do you know what fills me with tears?
Imagine I got sick one day…and sickness wore me down!
Will the night remember? An exiled that came…and did not return home?
Oh forest of willow trees! will you remember
that the one they threw under your sad shadow like any other dead thing,
is human?
I heard on the radio greetings of the homeless…to the homeless
Everyone said: We are all fine! No one is sad!
(A translated extract from ‘A letter from exile’ by Poet Mahmoud Darwish)
The Director
Eman Diab is a writer, producer, director, and visual artist originally from Egypt and now based in the North West of England. Her work revolves around exploring human inner thoughts and emotions, often from conceptual and psychological perspectives, telling stories internationally through visual media.
Drawing inspiration from her experiences living in different countries, Eman creates art that portrays a diverse array of cultures. Her artistry flows between mediums, at times capturing the movement of life through documentaries, short films, programmes, and YouTube shows. At other times, she freezes moments in time with stills and photographs.
Website: vimeo.com/emandiab
Instagram: eman.a.diab
The Painter
Nosayba Sulieman is a self-taught artist who recently emerged in the art world with a natural ability to express her emotions through her work. Originally from Sudan, she moved to the UK in 2021 and quickly established herself as a talented artist.
Her paintings reflect her personal experiences, providing a fresh perspective on the world around her. In just a short time, she has made a name for herself as a vibrant and talented artist. With her fresh perspective, willingness to share her emotions, and amplify others’ voices as well.
This work is a fusion of different techniques and new approaches, reflecting her willingness to experiment and push boundaries.
Instagram: nnu_studio
The Photographer
Abdullrhman Hassona is an Egyptian-born photographer and cinematographer based now in the United Kingdom. Abdullrhman interest lies in telling people’s personal stories, and representing a diverse range of cultures through his work.
Living in five different countries has developed his passion for travel, people, and cultures. He has been working for the past 10 years with advertising agencies, television companies, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
More recently, Abdullrhman has been developing his social media content creation side and helping others improve their digital art skills through tutorials and guidance.
Website: www.ahassona.com
Discover more of the Breaking Through Borders exhibition here