https://sahrahersi.net Sahra Hersi Tue, 14 Oct 2025 18:53:24 +0000 https://sahrahersi.net en https://sahrahersi.net/Splash-Page Tue, 23 Mar 2021 19:38:01 +0000 Sahra Hersi https://sahrahersi.net/Splash-Page Sahra Hersi&nbsp; <img width="500" height="500" width_o="500" height_o="500" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ecb416281cb0be6b4ee14f636519605573206db205a31f6e52b3e7c44c0942c3/SH_ENTER_BUTTON.png" data-mid="109591317" border="0" data-scale="21" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/500/i/ecb416281cb0be6b4ee14f636519605573206db205a31f6e52b3e7c44c0942c3/SH_ENTER_BUTTON.png" /> info@sahrahersi.net &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ︎ https://sahrahersi.net/Home-Making Mon, 08 Sep 2025 09:49:44 +0000 Sahra Hersi https://sahrahersi.net/Home-Making <img width="2469" height="1646" width_o="2469" height_o="1646" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cba01dd98e285e352452ff8f08bd66eca1f12050117ae75f1abee9043b8f3ff0/Homewalking2-89.jpg" data-mid="239488326" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/cba01dd98e285e352452ff8f08bd66eca1f12050117ae75f1abee9043b8f3ff0/Homewalking2-89.jpg" /> <img width="2542" height="1695" width_o="2542" height_o="1695" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d93b851200abacc269be44f13186b3bb4e38ea350e34f3cef59a506f349df6c3/Homewalking2-83.jpg" data-mid="239488253" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d93b851200abacc269be44f13186b3bb4e38ea350e34f3cef59a506f349df6c3/Homewalking2-83.jpg" /> <img width="6269" height="4179" width_o="6269" height_o="4179" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/64dc320fbdd27a6cef407e9a7b53e1d4efeb89c67a862d70fb9df38e45d279e1/Homewalking2-09.jpg" data-mid="239488256" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/64dc320fbdd27a6cef407e9a7b53e1d4efeb89c67a862d70fb9df38e45d279e1/Homewalking2-09.jpg" /> <img width="2508" height="1672" width_o="2508" height_o="1672" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9d7d0122fb6a7c5905c278160d644237d92967fcc799939e13e80b95bd97b7e2/Homewalking2-109.jpg" data-mid="239488310" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/9d7d0122fb6a7c5905c278160d644237d92967fcc799939e13e80b95bd97b7e2/Homewalking2-109.jpg" /> <img width="5571" height="3714" width_o="5571" height_o="3714" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a8b659bcd50d3a82315a221ab56f9568140ccba56bced3281b126d86998f84ac/Homewalking2-45.jpg" data-mid="239488342" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a8b659bcd50d3a82315a221ab56f9568140ccba56bced3281b126d86998f84ac/Homewalking2-45.jpg" /> <img width="6680" height="4453" width_o="6680" height_o="4453" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6e03d9de66edbe242c501762bad717a46f9ffd978c947514331304bda7cc4bdf/Homewalking2-44.jpg" data-mid="239488344" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/6e03d9de66edbe242c501762bad717a46f9ffd978c947514331304bda7cc4bdf/Homewalking2-44.jpg" /> <img width="6656" height="4437" width_o="6656" height_o="4437" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6f10b9e24d31ebe0799e40c699e2a6472b9df37b1ce487494f29ab3427488d67/Homewalking2-56.jpg" data-mid="239488247" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/6f10b9e24d31ebe0799e40c699e2a6472b9df37b1ce487494f29ab3427488d67/Homewalking2-56.jpg" /> <img width="2473" height="1649" width_o="2473" height_o="1649" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2bc6998e27e3467feb85011664ca50bc884347c4cd00739480ab022b4f655d37/Homewalking2-93.jpg" data-mid="239488312" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/2bc6998e27e3467feb85011664ca50bc884347c4cd00739480ab022b4f655d37/Homewalking2-93.jpg" /> <img width="2545" height="1697" width_o="2545" height_o="1697" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/91fe41679b18f5a4aef4ac3090aa5f668af214371650e279b134cb0fa3a5e5f4/Homewalking2-91.jpg" data-mid="239488338" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/91fe41679b18f5a4aef4ac3090aa5f668af214371650e279b134cb0fa3a5e5f4/Homewalking2-91.jpg" /> <img width="3715" height="5571" width_o="3715" height_o="5571" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/314282ed9767e75a1cf8b4d3d14531de1fe1d6f5c02186f3784f8d7950a51708/Homewalking2-41.jpg" data-mid="239488295" border="0" data-scale="52" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/314282ed9767e75a1cf8b4d3d14531de1fe1d6f5c02186f3784f8d7950a51708/Homewalking2-41.jpg" /> <img width="1859" height="1240" width_o="1859" height_o="1240" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8821170de5039bb7341fdc65c9d88e4947c25a8f82ec9906768f37c76b3ff29d/Homewalking2-90.jpg" data-mid="239488330" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/8821170de5039bb7341fdc65c9d88e4947c25a8f82ec9906768f37c76b3ff29d/Homewalking2-90.jpg" /> Image Credit: Ai NarapolHome Making&nbsp; An exhibition by artists Sahra Hersi and Sofia Niazi, with RajoCommissioned by: Arts Catalyst How do we make home in different places? And how is that knowledge carried and shared from our rooms to our cities, across borders, and through generations? For me, Home Making is a way of looking at how making, play, learning, and cooperation can become tools for belonging, purpose, and even rest, especially in times of change or uncertainty. Commissioned by Arts Catalyst, the exhibition began with Housewarming, a series of workshops I designed with Sofia Niazi, in conversation with a group of women connected to Andalus Community Centre. Some had recently arrived in the UK; others had long been part of the community. In time, they came together and named themselves&nbsp;Rajo, the Somali word for hope. Those workshops created more than objects. They created a space, one where gathering, talking, and making together became its own form of collective homemaking. Not through bricks and mortar, but through gestures of warmth, kinship, and creativity. The exhibition brings these processes into view. On display are handmade doormats crafted by the Rajo group, alongside a large-scale textile by Sofia. My ceramic tile works draw on the symbols of openness, collaboration, and solidarity explored in the workshops. Nearby sit plates painted by the women: pieces that hold memories, motifs, and fragments of places lived and imagined, shared in the process of getting to know one another. Home Making also acknowledges the essential work of community organisations like Andalus Community Centre, whose support, friendship, and solidarity form the foundations of home for so many. <img width="1024" height="683" width_o="1024" height_o="683" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/40af0a732bc008adae82bc933e73ea451b905ff58a7eb9e2ddcf1701c4417ab8/housewarming-sharaartist-image.png" data-mid="237935599" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/40af0a732bc008adae82bc933e73ea451b905ff58a7eb9e2ddcf1701c4417ab8/housewarming-sharaartist-image.png" />Housewarming’ Lino Printing Workshop (2025), Sahra Hersi. Image Credit: Ella Barrett<img width="666" height="924" width_o="666" height_o="924" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/709649ccb2f812fe2455c082a031a277825346590ee8b2e7075c5668757f0821/home-making-poster.jpg" data-mid="246114164" border="0" data-scale="31" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/666/i/709649ccb2f812fe2455c082a031a277825346590ee8b2e7075c5668757f0821/home-making-poster.jpg" />Home Making, Riso print (2025), Sahra Hersi. Image Credit: Sahra Hersi Andalus Community Centre is a Sheffield-based charity and advice bureau supporting asylum seekers and recent migrants to access local services. Their work includes job assistance, family counselling, translation and interpretation, and creating opportunities for social connection. Fabricators: Nelson and Woodward Home Making is generously supported by Arts Council England, Sheffield Church Burgesses Trust,&nbsp;JG Graves Charitable Trust, and&nbsp;Sheffield City Council&nbsp;(as part of Castlegate Festival 2025). https://sahrahersi.net/A-Tapestry-for-Anglesey Tue, 14 Oct 2025 18:53:24 +0000 Sahra Hersi https://sahrahersi.net/A-Tapestry-for-Anglesey <img width="5000" height="3333" width_o="5000" height_o="3333" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/21714330f42dd7528a5afcd2334d29ff6c156dd25c84085b67ef99753ed1e72d/Tools-for-Transition-at-the-Design-Museum_Photo-Credit-Luke-Hayes-11.jpg" data-mid="239378315" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/21714330f42dd7528a5afcd2334d29ff6c156dd25c84085b67ef99753ed1e72d/Tools-for-Transition-at-the-Design-Museum_Photo-Credit-Luke-Hayes-11.jpg" /> <img width="5000" height="3333" width_o="5000" height_o="3333" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4c326873f8d79132e4ead7788eaf518ea6a5381850e33ac5ce808137a0c05613/Tools-for-Transition-at-the-Design-Museum_Photo-Credit-Luke-Hayes-12.jpg" data-mid="239378316" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/4c326873f8d79132e4ead7788eaf518ea6a5381850e33ac5ce808137a0c05613/Tools-for-Transition-at-the-Design-Museum_Photo-Credit-Luke-Hayes-12.jpg" /> <img width="5000" height="3333" width_o="5000" height_o="3333" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c85cd43bd08f9325ff7ff1ef56e2ba6f6066aea7e1d626e9b18cf8fb060a2ef0/Tools-for-Transition-at-the-Design-Museum_Photo-Credit-Luke-Hayes-10.jpg" data-mid="239378313" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/c85cd43bd08f9325ff7ff1ef56e2ba6f6066aea7e1d626e9b18cf8fb060a2ef0/Tools-for-Transition-at-the-Design-Museum_Photo-Credit-Luke-Hayes-10.jpg" /> A Tapestry for Anglesey (Ynys Môn)&nbsp; Commissioned by the Future Observatory, Design Museum 2025&nbsp;Wales has a long and rich history of weaving stories into textiles, preserving the country’s culture, memory and identity for future generations. Continuing this legacy, the tapestry was commissioned by Future Observatory for Tools for Transition, a new display of regionally specific design research at the Design Museum. The work responds to Public Map Platform (PMP), an initiative that brings together young people and community mappers on Ynys Môn (Anglesey) to explore the place they call home. The tapestry serves as a creative response to their ongoing research within the Future Observatory network. Over the past two years, PMP has focused on co-creating an interactive digital map designed to help local authorities and communities visualise what is happening in their areas. Their approach weaves together environmental data, cultural memory, sensory information and storytelling to support planning that reflects the lived experiences of people and place. The tapestry’s design was developed through a co-production workshop with PMP’s team of Community Mappers on Ynys Môn. Participants were invited to reflect on their experiences of mapping the island, responding to prompts such as “Was there a moment in the mapping process that felt especially meaningful or relevant?” The responses a mix of reflections, drawings and stories, revealed emotional and cultural layers of place that can’t be captured through data alone. These fragments were later shaped into an illustration conveying the themes and narratives shared by the mappers. The design reflects the three key layers of the public map: social, cultural and environmental. The tapestry tells many stories at once. Relics of Anglesey’s industrial past, aluminium and copper mining, and references to the island’s future with nuclear energy frame the edges of the piece. Scenes from mapping events appear throughout, depicting moments of community life: local schools, water sports, crafts and cultural activities. Together, these images form a vivid portrait of life on the island, drawn from the perspective of those who know it best. Handwoven by Dash &amp; Miller using British wool on a Jacquard loom, a tool originally developed for patterned cloth and later an influence on early computing, the tapestry bridges digital mapping and traditional craft, connecting precision with care. The work stands as a testament to the power of co-creation, honouring the importance of making space for stories, voices and memories in how place is understood. A Tapestry for Anglesey forms part of the Future Observatory: Tools for Transition display and will be on show at the Design Museum until August 2026. <img width="1286" height="912" width_o="1286" height_o="912" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e810aed288a95d9d76e31e4b014a1228ae9239df6bd46141d2f8f4e87aa4652c/dashandmiller_weavingsample_2025.jpeg" data-mid="240565733" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e810aed288a95d9d76e31e4b014a1228ae9239df6bd46141d2f8f4e87aa4652c/dashandmiller_weavingsample_2025.jpeg" /> <img width="1239" height="1652" width_o="1239" height_o="1652" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6d3d176ccd6d6d7f93e7891325936cf45c5e3174115502f40c0242c4783d763b/sahrahersi_angelseyworkshop02.jpeg" data-mid="240565660" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/6d3d176ccd6d6d7f93e7891325936cf45c5e3174115502f40c0242c4783d763b/sahrahersi_angelseyworkshop02.jpeg" /> Co-production workshop in Ynys Môn, led by Sahra Hersi. Detail of tapestry in production. Image by Dash &amp; Miller. Woven by Dash &amp; MillerPhoto Credit Luke Hayes https://sahrahersi.net/Tender-Women Sun, 16 Jun 2024 10:45:38 +0000 Sahra Hersi https://sahrahersi.net/Tender-Women <img width="7975" height="5981" width_o="7975" height_o="5981" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/83a548e48abf2a94055e30ab56417b5a181c4046593abf330b5f902b3972cdf0/DSCF0382.jpg" data-mid="234119189" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/83a548e48abf2a94055e30ab56417b5a181c4046593abf330b5f902b3972cdf0/DSCF0382.jpg" /> <img width="2720" height="2041" width_o="2720" height_o="2041" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ff5ea2a7dc69fee73f4c2e3212f0ca093506bf793ff49c058c876183b91155ba/DSCF0916.jpg" data-mid="234119190" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/ff5ea2a7dc69fee73f4c2e3212f0ca093506bf793ff49c058c876183b91155ba/DSCF0916.jpg" /> <img width="7975" height="5981" width_o="7975" height_o="5981" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e67f9bc6153310be2e67d5a92de99c47d461627505615d5326c8f419f089ef89/1.jpg" data-mid="234119194" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e67f9bc6153310be2e67d5a92de99c47d461627505615d5326c8f419f089ef89/1.jpg" /> <img width="7705" height="5779" width_o="7705" height_o="5779" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/69c2b9fd6225a78e4c0d7715606c690061e836e1563d3a0954facdbf5685e51c/DSCF1026.jpg" data-mid="234119192" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/69c2b9fd6225a78e4c0d7715606c690061e836e1563d3a0954facdbf5685e51c/DSCF1026.jpg" /> <img width="2664" height="1998" width_o="2664" height_o="1998" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/26be0787d392c44985a862d1c6a522146863a22f5367a89a2c2bf47ed1396287/DSCF1021.jpg" data-mid="234119191" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/26be0787d392c44985a862d1c6a522146863a22f5367a89a2c2bf47ed1396287/DSCF1021.jpg" /> Tender WomenSpring 2025 Commission, &nbsp;The Women’s Museum Tender Women is a 2025 commission developed through a series of workshops with members of the Adanna Women’s Support Group. The project explores how material transformation, personal agency and lived experience can be expressed through making. The exhibition brings together selected works created by participants, presented alongside a new site-responsive piece developed for the museum. The workshops introduced indigo dyeing, cyanotype, cross-stitch, collage and poetry. These processes have long been associated with domestic or feminised craft and have often been undervalued within mainstream art and design contexts. Here, they were approached as material systems with spatial, poetic and political potential. Their transformational qualities, such as indigo deepening in colour as it meets air and cyanotype developing through sunlight, became central to the conversations. These shifts in colour and form echoed discussions within the group about resilience, emergence and navigating life on one’s own terms. The idea of desire lines, the informal paths created by repeated movement, shaped the wider project. This metaphor offered a way to think about intuitive decision-making and the routes people create when existing structures do not fully reflect their needs or experiences. Across the five sessions, the workshops held space for experimentation, conversation and shared making. Participants explored themes of autonomy, care and possibility through materials that reveal themselves through time, exposure and interaction. Although rooted in the specific experiences of the Adanna group, the project sits within a wider practice concerned with material processes, spatial storytelling and the cultural significance of craft.Workshop Series Experimentation, Reflection, and Collective Care The workshops were designed to offer a supportive, non-judgemental space for creative exploration. For many of the women involved, this was their first experience working with techniques such as cyanotype or indigo dyeing. Although not all identified as artists, each participant engaged with the materials and themes in ways that affirmed their voices, experiences, and aspirations. Workshop 1 – Getting to Know Each OtherThe group began by sharing stories and creating collages that reflected personal hopes and collective ambitions. Workshop 2 – Cross-Stitching and Desire LinesParticipants learnt cross-stitch techniques and worked collaboratively to visualise the idea of desire lines through embroidery. Workshop 3 – Indigo Dyeing and Personal ManifestosUsing wax-resist methods, each participant created an indigo-dyed napkin and wrote a short manifesto—a statement of strength, encouragement, or care for themselves and others. Workshop 4 – Poetry and Collective VoiceParticipants created individual poems using a collage method, drawing on texts by Maya Angelou, Audre Lorde, and Begum Rokeya’s Sultana’s Dream. These poems were later combined to form Poem by Tender Women, a visual installation made with coloured tape. Workshop 5 – Cyanotype Printing and Local NatureThe final session focused on cyanotype printing using local foliage. Participants worked with natural materials and light exposure to create works grounded in their immediate environment. Exhibition and Acknowledgements The resulting exhibition showcases a selection of works created throughout the workshop process, presented alongside a new responsive piece by Sahra Hersi. Tender Women highlights the beauty of process-led practice and the transformative potential of collective creativity. With thanks to the women of Adanna and The Women’s Museum for their openness and generosity in sharing their stories and artworks. Special thanks to workshop participants:Evelyn, Harjit Kaur, Liz, M.E., Ms Wu, Ronke, Shareen Akhtar, Yvette, and others who preferred to remain anonymous.Project TeamGraphic Design: Claire Mason — @shapethepageFabrication and Install: Lucy WoodhouseCurator (The Women’s Museum): Siobhán ForshawCommissioned by: Precious Jeffers, Cultural Programmes, London Borough of Barking &amp; Dagenham Photo credit:&nbsp;Julia Forsman https://sahrahersi.net/Fragments-from-Our-land Fri, 20 Dec 2024 18:55:42 +0000 Sahra Hersi https://sahrahersi.net/Fragments-from-Our-land <img width="2450" height="1630" width_o="2450" height_o="1630" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f23afcd31db8d38685c6111ed511ea7b128f55d803f653de917062887b220813/Screenshot-2024-12-20-at-18.57.16.png" data-mid="223636992" border="0" data-scale="99" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f23afcd31db8d38685c6111ed511ea7b128f55d803f653de917062887b220813/Screenshot-2024-12-20-at-18.57.16.png" /> <img width="2450" height="1630" width_o="2450" height_o="1630" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d2ba147665a160e2894e1cf77a776088d8d036144c714b145af545e516c48e49/Screenshot-2024-12-20-at-18.57.36.png" data-mid="223636993" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/d2ba147665a160e2894e1cf77a776088d8d036144c714b145af545e516c48e49/Screenshot-2024-12-20-at-18.57.36.png" /> Sahra Hersi and community collaborators, Paris and Rivka, taking part in a workshop at Hackney Mosaic Projects. Image: Zoe Scholes.&nbsp; Thumbnail image: Sahra HersiFragments of Our land Marshgate Lane Public Art Commission: Live project&nbsp;Curated and produced by UP Projects. Commissioned by LLDC Aligned with LLDC’s Handbook: Creating Places that Work for Women and Girls, this commission takes a co-creative approach to ensure the final artwork reflects the voices and experiences of the local community. Working with eight Community Collaborators, local women selected through an open call with direct connections to the Marshgate Lane area, the project explores questions of safety, belonging, and inclusivity in the public realm. Through nine curated workshops, the group has been investigating how art and wayfinding interventions can make the space more welcoming and accessible. The collaborative process includes shaping decisions around the artwork’s location, materials, and design. A slow, conversational methodology underpins the work, bringing together material research, place-based observation, and collective authorship. It is anticipated that the final artworks will launch in summer 2026, offering a meaningful contribution to the Marshgate Lane area. More information:&nbsp;https://upprojects.com/projects/marshgate-wayfinding https://sahrahersi.net/Seeds-of-Change-Celebrating-Islam Tue, 03 Jun 2025 16:47:25 +0000 Sahra Hersi https://sahrahersi.net/Seeds-of-Change-Celebrating-Islam <img width="8192" height="5464" width_o="8192" height_o="5464" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6d7f9e2eee9b48c05e94207fcb7e37c13f90d9b97f47f631d5c688cec0a7675d/8P4A0020-Enhanced-NR.jpg" data-mid="234120601" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/6d7f9e2eee9b48c05e94207fcb7e37c13f90d9b97f47f631d5c688cec0a7675d/8P4A0020-Enhanced-NR.jpg" /> <img width="2025" height="1351" width_o="2025" height_o="1351" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7ff95418859d9fcee907cc529982a2cc8dc0996d3949c3ede6950729f00f4ab8/8P4A0010-2.jpg" data-mid="234120600" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/7ff95418859d9fcee907cc529982a2cc8dc0996d3949c3ede6950729f00f4ab8/8P4A0010-2.jpg" /> <img width="6240" height="4160" width_o="6240" height_o="4160" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8fc8ba2e360053aa13237cc86c13cd04d70cac9765af5dc3a473c663b9a47d6b/IMG_0269.jpg" data-mid="234120603" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/8fc8ba2e360053aa13237cc86c13cd04d70cac9765af5dc3a473c663b9a47d6b/IMG_0269.jpg" /> <img width="8192" height="5464" width_o="8192" height_o="5464" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/340290cdf8fde45b899d3394977a7320057e838601d477a3dd6d419bb8977353/8P4A0037-Enhanced-NR.jpg" data-mid="234120602" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/340290cdf8fde45b899d3394977a7320057e838601d477a3dd6d419bb8977353/8P4A0037-Enhanced-NR.jpg" /> <img width="2480" height="2480" width_o="2480" height_o="2480" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b3bb19320417cd2d9692f3dfdc90b56425d308124e12b8d545248f907c6ac181/insta-1.jpg" data-mid="234120300" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/b3bb19320417cd2d9692f3dfdc90b56425d308124e12b8d545248f907c6ac181/insta-1.jpg" /> Seeds of Change: Celebrating Islam InstallationCommissioned by Newham Council as part of Islamophobia Awareness Month, 2024Seeds of Change is a temporary installation exploring themes of faith, connection to Allah (God), community, and safety. Commissioned by Newham Council&nbsp;for&nbsp;Islamophobia Awareness Month, the installation was developed through a workshop with local Muslim women from Newham, whose insights and lived experiences helped shape the concept and form of the space. At its heart is a tent structure, a nod to those used during the Hajj pilgrimage, where worshippers gather to rest and pray. The tent serves as a peaceful sanctuary, offering a moment of respite, joy, and quiet reflection. It invites people of all faiths, or none, to enter, connect, and share in the spirit of beauty and togetherness that Islam embodies. The wider event was designed to celebrate Islam and foster understanding and inclusivity across the community. It featured live music by Kadialy Kouyate, a celebrated kora player and griot whose musical legacy has enriched London’s cultural landscape since his arrival in the UK. The installation was open to the public for one week at Applecart Arts’ in 2024. https://sahrahersi.net/Wayfinding-To-Our-Memories-1 Thu, 25 Jul 2024 19:59:30 +0000 Sahra Hersi https://sahrahersi.net/Wayfinding-To-Our-Memories-1 <img width="5857" height="7809" width_o="5857" height_o="7809" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/74e4e57df0ba8f33bad0e618eb60342ba3023abe0a49a8e3c69df99dbca63ae1/DSCF0223.jpg" data-mid="215314650" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/74e4e57df0ba8f33bad0e618eb60342ba3023abe0a49a8e3c69df99dbca63ae1/DSCF0223.jpg" /> <img width="2480" height="3508" width_o="2480" height_o="3508" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e6d7bf91e130664420eab58d1fc9d72d26dc1f5614eba3cf5d88e01701cfaf40/1.jpg" data-mid="215314615" border="0" data-scale="62" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e6d7bf91e130664420eab58d1fc9d72d26dc1f5614eba3cf5d88e01701cfaf40/1.jpg" /> <img width="6163" height="8218" width_o="6163" height_o="8218" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/66b02aa58bb7178646d2bb40960e1f22bab50b306c75fe1ff781974ee5d06b6c/DSCF9325.jpg" data-mid="215314637" border="0" data-scale="56" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/66b02aa58bb7178646d2bb40960e1f22bab50b306c75fe1ff781974ee5d06b6c/DSCF9325.jpg" /> <img width="4241" height="5654" width_o="4241" height_o="5654" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9aff94449cf576cba34adc70cd9bb46b4b6beddd76a6dd4b2ade2435fcd2cd14/DSCF9424.jpg" data-mid="215315652" border="0" data-scale="51" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/9aff94449cf576cba34adc70cd9bb46b4b6beddd76a6dd4b2ade2435fcd2cd14/DSCF9424.jpg" /> Photo credits: © Julia Fosman&nbsp; Wayfinding To Our MemoriesCement Fields:&nbsp;2024 Wayfinding to Our Memories is a four meter tall, large scale artwork created in collaboration with year one and year five students at Cherry Orchard Academy in Ebbsfleet, Kent . Through a series of workshops, young people reflected on their memories of home and their local area while listening to audio and film clips from the Citizen Archive, featuring older residents’ recollections. Inspired by these experiences, the students crafted wayfinding signs and drawings, blending their own memories with those from the archive. The artwork features symbols such as bunting, referencing a memory shared by a 90 year old resident, and ice cream, a shared memory across generations. Additionally, elements like ships and trains, which are a nod to the area’s shipping and industrial heritage, are included, reflecting both past and present. Constructed from unpainted aluminium, the artwork’s shiny, reflective surface echoes the nature of memories reflective and ever changing. Over time, the shininess of the aluminium may fade, mirroring how memories might change or fade with age. This choice of material captures how memories reflect their environments and evolve over time. This artwork serves as a symbol and portal, encouraging viewers to pause, reflect on their own memories, and appreciate the unique connections across time and experiences. Beautifully fabricated by Red Collective London &nbsp;Structural engineer: Alice Ward&nbsp; https://sahrahersi.net/Tile-Stories Sun, 23 Jun 2024 21:02:16 +0000 Sahra Hersi https://sahrahersi.net/Tile-Stories <img width="1776" height="1184" width_o="1776" height_o="1184" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e478f812c6ac54775079a53c5b065889bebc6df3cc74e2e5da4636fd23406dc8/DSCF1684.JPG" data-mid="213484143" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e478f812c6ac54775079a53c5b065889bebc6df3cc74e2e5da4636fd23406dc8/DSCF1684.JPG" /> <img width="2096" height="1667" width_o="2096" height_o="1667" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c25f9447895ede66b6937338573415061073f5de090726574fda1507a90a842c/Cromer_Terrace_riso__3-2.jpg" data-mid="213607084" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/c25f9447895ede66b6937338573415061073f5de090726574fda1507a90a842c/Cromer_Terrace_riso__3-2.jpg" /> Mountford Growing Community Tile StoriesLocation: Mountford Estate, HackneyWork in progress - 2024&nbsp;Mountford Growing Community Tile Stories is a creative initiative set in the heart of Hackney’s Mountford Estate. This project aims to capture and celebrate the vibrant gardening efforts and the rich stories of the residents through a series of ceramic tile panels. The project is currently a work in progress and is set to be delivered this summer. The central focus of the project is to create beautiful, hand-made ceramic tiles that reflect the various gardens started by the residents across the estate. These tiles serve as a visual and tactile storytelling medium, illustrating the unique narratives and botanical diversity of these community spaces. Each panel is composed of individual tiles that are connected together to form a larger picture, telling a cohesive and meaningful story. The stories depicted are always conveyed through the plants grown in these gardens, making the artwork particularly resonant for the residents. This method of using smaller tiles to create a bigger image reflects how individuals come together to form a larger community. One highlighted panel will be dedicated to the Children's Garden, featuring a greenhouse. This panel will tell the story of the children’s gardening experiences, showcasing the types of plants they grow and the joy and learning that happens in this green space. The illustrations and carvings on the ceramic tiles will bring to life the greenhouse, the plants, and the growth journey of the children. Another panel will depict the story of artichokes, which some residents grew back in their native countries and have started growing on the estate. This panel, made up of many smaller tiles, will reflect this connection to their heritage and the continuation of their gardening traditions. Additionally, there will be a panel illustrating the fruit trees grown around the estate, including the story of a banana tree that one resident has been attempting to grow and is still nurturing. This panel will celebrate the dedication and care taken by the residents to maintain these gardens. Each tile is meticulously hand crafted, cut, and carved by me, reflecting the dedication and care put into every piece. The flowers, foliage, and imagery on the tiles are designed to capture the essence of the gardens and the community’s stories of growth, nurturing, and connection to nature. This project not only beautifies the estate but also fosters a sense of pride and belonging among the residents, celebrating their contributions to creating a green and vibrant community. The individual smaller tiles coming together to form larger panels symbolise how each person is a part of the larger picture, contributing to the community as a whole. https://sahrahersi.net/Play-Ground-with-Peak-Cymru Sat, 15 Jun 2024 22:22:24 +0000 Sahra Hersi https://sahrahersi.net/Play-Ground-with-Peak-Cymru <img width="1022" height="1022" width_o="1022" height_o="1022" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/31b26d823eed6102f21b6eb76653a54b19d6417ee0d0a03f4c22fd85bf318c2c/Screenshot-2024-06-15-at-23.23.40.png" data-mid="212989326" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/31b26d823eed6102f21b6eb76653a54b19d6417ee0d0a03f4c22fd85bf318c2c/Screenshot-2024-06-15-at-23.23.40.png" /> Play/Ground with Peak Cymru 2024 - Present/Ongoing Play/Ground is an innovative community project located at The Old School in Crickhowell, Wales, developed by Peak Cymru. This initiative transforms the former playground into a dynamic community garden, serving as both a physical site and a conceptual tool to foster collaboration among local residents, young people, and intergenerational groups throughout 2024 and beyond. Project Vision Play/Ground is envisioned as a space where creative practice and horticultural activities come together to inspire sustainable living and community engagement. By adhering to permaculture principles, the project seeks to learn from the site and its participants, cultivating a shared vision for its future use. Young People’s Programme: A series of monthly sessions called "Play/Ground," aimed at 14-18 year-olds, involves creative and horticultural activities. The program includes 1-3 workshops within a six-session programme, guiding the youth in designing and implementing garden features. Community Engagement and Learning:&nbsp;Throughout the project, participants will have opportunities to learn from experts in various fields, including artists, environmentalists, and designers. This knowledge transfer will enhance young people's skills and awareness of sustainable living practices.&nbsp; Community Garden Development: Through the collaborative design and implementation process, the former playground will be transformed into a vibrant community/artist garden. This space will serve as a resource for creative and restorative learning, providing a sustainable environment for community activities and events. The garden will become a hub for community engagement, fostering a deeper connection between residents and their local environment. These workshops and programme is the first stage in the design development of the garden over time. https://sahrahersi.net/Civic-Carpet-Ilford-Forever Wed, 07 Feb 2024 13:36:01 +0000 Sahra Hersi https://sahrahersi.net/Civic-Carpet-Ilford-Forever <img width="1220" height="2168" width_o="1220" height_o="2168" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0ed20de819a12ec2b59326dbd81dd58e8b4680fa980604765e0cbc0be9c51153/DJI_20240124093048_0026_D.jpg" data-mid="204085794" border="0" data-scale="40" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/0ed20de819a12ec2b59326dbd81dd58e8b4680fa980604765e0cbc0be9c51153/DJI_20240124093048_0026_D.jpg" /> <img width="1276" height="2268" width_o="1276" height_o="2268" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9ee76c34b827cdc70c71ab51e6f8aebe85892850d4882588ee7c00bbda6bc0f2/DJI_20240124091813_0006_D-2.jpg" data-mid="204085814" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/9ee76c34b827cdc70c71ab51e6f8aebe85892850d4882588ee7c00bbda6bc0f2/DJI_20240124091813_0006_D-2.jpg" /> <img width="1276" height="2268" width_o="1276" height_o="2268" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f524f373b2bc8256af1c1a653065c462caef2faa8350eb8c34842bb1bbf94982/DJI_20240124095514_0060_D-Edit-2.jpg" data-mid="204085815" border="0" data-scale="34" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/f524f373b2bc8256af1c1a653065c462caef2faa8350eb8c34842bb1bbf94982/DJI_20240124095514_0060_D-Edit-2.jpg" /> Civic Carpet -&nbsp;Ilford Forever&nbsp;Redbridge Council &nbsp;2023 Civic Carpet – Ilford Forever is a permanent granite artwork embedded in the civic heart of Ilford town centre, in the London Borough of Redbridge. Commissioned by Redbridge Council, the project began in 2021 and was completed in 2023 with the installation of its second piece, You Are Here. The work explores how a town’s identity can be expressed through pattern, material and collective memory. Developed during the pandemic, the project unfolded through a series of online workshops with young people from Ilford. Conducted over Zoom and Google Jamboard, these sessions became spaces for reflection and shared imagination at a time of distance and uncertainty. Rather than producing direct designs for the final piece, participants were invited to exchange ideas, stories and drawings that spoke to their sense of place. Each workshop explored a theme,&nbsp;Affirmations, Home, Garden, and Tapestry for the Community. Together, these strands traced a path from the domestic to the civic, asking how the textures of everyday life might extend into the public realm. Conversations touched on household motifs like carpets and wallpaper, the history of garden design, and artists such as William Morris whose work connected ornament to social purpose. Participants also uncovered local histories, including the story of Cranbrook Castle, a once-prominent landmark in Ilford now largely forgotten. The final design integrates affirmations from the workshops with references to pattern-making, public carpets and local heritage. Motifs drawn from Cranbrook Castle appear throughout, reintroducing a fragment of Ilford’s past into the present-day town centre. Carved from granite, the Civic Carpet translates the warmth of domestic materials into a durable urban surface, a meeting point that honours shared history and lived experience. It stands as both a marker and an invitation: to gather, to pause, and to recognise Ilford as a place continually shaped by its people. <img width="670" height="738" width_o="670" height_o="738" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3e5b3a4179186e1dfca937b3a36da02a6635fb478566bb997044def505ee31c5/Screenshot-2024-02-07-at-18.52.24.png" data-mid="204114473" border="0" data-scale="33" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/670/i/3e5b3a4179186e1dfca937b3a36da02a6635fb478566bb997044def505ee31c5/Screenshot-2024-02-07-at-18.52.24.png" /> Client: Redbridge&nbsp;Council Photography: Abdul Muktadir Stone supplier:&nbsp;BBS Natural Stone SpecialistsFabricator: Scribble Stone&nbsp;