A rare insight into the lives of South Africa’s refugees
14 April 2009
A new Melbourne exhibition will present a powerful record of the
experiences of refugee communities that were victims of xenophobic
attacks in South Africa last year. The Safe Spaces at Safe Shelters
exhibition was first held in South Africa at the Old Fort,
Constitution Hill. Through the coordination of Australian
Volunteers International (AVI), the Art Therapy Centre (South
Africa) and AVI volunteer Michelle Atlas, the exhibition is
travelling to Melbourne and will run from 15 April to 1 May 2009 at
the Red Gallery at 157 St Georges Road, North Fitzroy.
A new Melbourne exhibition will present a powerful record of the
experiences of refugee communities that were victims of xenophobic
attacks in South Africa last year.
The Safe Spaces at Safe Shelters exhibition was first held in
South Africa at the Old Fort, Constitution Hill. Through the
coordination of Australian Volunteers International (AVI), the Art
Therapy Centre (South Africa) and AVI volunteer Michelle Atlas, the
exhibition is travelling to Melbourne and will run from 15 April to
1 May 2009 at the Red Gallery at 157 St Georges Road, North
Fitzroy.
Former Caulfield South resident, Michelle Atlas said the
exhibition is the result of the Art Therapy Centre's, an AVI
partner organisation, extensive work with the refugee communities
after xenophobia attacks in Johannesburg and across the country in
May 2008.
"Following the attacks and the aftermath, the ATC was
instrumental in providing vital art counselling to those
traumatised and affected by the events - and the images in the
exhibition are the very visual results of this work," the art
therapist said.
"Art Therapy is a means of counselling, whereby art counsellors
provide desperately needed safe spaces for traumatised and bereaved
community members to process grief and often unbearable life
circumstances in a supportive environment.
"As a result of our extensive work with the community we have a
powerful record of the events and aftermath from the refugees who
were living at the Strydom Park refugee site. Disclosures of
violence, trauma and abuse have come to the forefront of the
imagery, interspersed by displays of hope for the future."
The record is a multidimensional exhibition, incorporating
visual art, film and photography, which are to displayed with the
permission and encouragement from the refugee community in South
Africa.
According to AVI Overseas Operations manager Karla Wesley, the
ATC counsellors witnessed the atrocities and aggression that the
refugee communities faced but they also experienced their strength
in responding to their situation.
"Safe Spaces at Safe Shelters is an exhibition that demonstrates
that these communities have not lost hope. They can still think
about a positive life in the future, even after the experience they
have been through."
Safe Spaces at Safe Shelters is proudly supported by AusAID,
VSO, Johannesburg Development Agency, Mail & Guardian and
For more information on Australian Volunteers International
visit www.australianvolunteers.com
or the Art Therapy Centre at www.arttherapycentre.co.za.
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY - Exhibition Opening: 15 April 2009, Red Gallery
at 157 St Georges Road, North Fitzroy from 6pm
INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY: Michelle Atlas will return to Australia
from South Africa for the exhibition available for interviews from
8 April to 17 April.
- Ends -
Contact:
Christine Crosby,
Marketing and Communications
Australian Volunteers International,
Phone: +61 (0)3 9279 1763
Email: ccrosby@australianvolunteers.com
Photo: Safepaces.jpg