Art therapy exhibition providing opportunities for migrant children
The exhibition was run by Living Water Community, a UNICEF partner - Port of Spain, July 2019.
‘In Between - Stories of a Refugee’ was a moving exhibition created by children in Trinidad who have arrived from other countries like Venezuela, Cuba, Dominican Republic, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Pakistan. The work emerged from an art therapy workshop where the children explored their journey and their homes, their hopes and their dreams through a series of murals.
The exhibition ran through July 2019 at the Medulla Gallery in Port of Spain and involved 12 children between the ages of 7 and 18.
“I feel that painting is a way to relieve stress…Sometimes life gets a little dark but there is also light and shine.”
There awere vivid images of home, of what was being left behind…
The journey to accepting a new home…
And here is when the bubble, where I was living blew up
And I cried, cried and cried for days
A lot of days…until…
One day this country became my home
I don’t know how it happened
Just like that
I learnt to be humble, To value
To not judge.
Many of the artists expressed optimism about the future: “Many countries, one world.” “I want to have a bright future.” “I wish my country gets better.”
For others these hopes were mixed with fears, “We don’t want to be rejected.” “I don’t want you to look at me badly.”
The interactive exhibition allowed visitors to share their immediate reactions as they were encouraged to write and draw on a fourth mural. “There is beauty and unity in diversity.” “I stand with you.”
Some of the artists took part in a panel discussion about the opportunities and challenges of the move to Trinidad and Tobago. For one young panelist, a major challenge was learning to eat rotis with his hands!
UNICEF is working with partners like the Living Water Community to try to ensure that migrants in Trinidad and Tobago have access to the care and services they need.
