A groundbreaking art exhibition featuring the powerful works of refugee artists living in Kenya's Kakuma Refugee Camp is opening to the public in Wiltshire, England. The exhibition, titled "The Power of One Painting," will showcase artwork created through the Kakuma Art Project, giving voice to the extraordinary stories of displaced people who have fled violence and persecution across Africa.
The exhibition opens on Sunday at the Vanner Gallery in Salisbury and continues on Monday. The featured artwork was created by refugee artists participating in the Kakuma Art Project, an initiative that provides education, visibility, and opportunities to talented individuals living in one of the world's largest refugee camps. Through a series of workshops and support programs, the project helps artists express their experiences and stories through visual art.
Tara Dominick, a fine artist from Devon who is deeply involved with the project, said working with the refugee artists has opened her eyes "to the extraordinary stories that refugees carry." She described the experience as "profoundly moving" to witness how refugees express their experiences through art and to see "how healing it is for them to be truly seen and heard through their work." The collaboration has also helped the participating artists become more confident in their abilities, which Dominick found "extremely heart-warming."
The Kakuma Art Project itself was born from an unexpected connection sparked by art. The initiative began when Dominick created a painting called "Boat," which depicted refugees packed onto a vessel at sea. This artwork started a meaningful conversation between Dominick and Hubert Senya, a refugee artist at the camp, ultimately leading to the foundation of the art project. What started as a single painting has now grown into a comprehensive program supporting multiple artists.
Kakuma Refugee Camp is home to approximately 300,000 refugees from various African countries who have "fled famine, persecution and conflict," according to Dominick. The camp houses people who have escaped some of the continent's most challenging situations, seeking safety and a chance to rebuild their lives. Despite the difficult circumstances, many residents possess remarkable artistic talents that the project helps nurture and showcase.
Dominick expressed amazement at the far-reaching impact of the initiative, saying the opportunity for the refugee artists "to be exhibited here in the UK at The Vanner Gallery is more than miraculous." She reflected on the unexpected scope of the project's influence, noting, "I would not have thought one painting could impact quite so many lives, not just the refugees but also the community of wonderful supporters here in the UK, who made a bespoke art gallery at the camp possible."
The project has created a supportive network that extends from the refugee camp in Kenya to art lovers and advocates in the United Kingdom. This international collaboration has enabled the establishment of a dedicated art gallery space within the camp itself, providing refugees with a platform to display their work and connect with audiences beyond the camp's boundaries. The exhibition represents a rare opportunity for people in the UK to experience firsthand the perspectives and stories of refugees through their artistic expressions.
