Art & Asylum
- Europe Must Act
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
To read our report in full, download it in English here:
Art and Asylum: How Creative Expression Shapes Migration Narratives
In our current world of growing division and the rise of anti-immigrant sentiment, coupled with the increase of AI and computer-generated outputs, resistance through art is one of the most positive and powerful methods available to challenge oppression and create change.
Resistance can take form in many ways, not always through politically inspired creations and art-activism, but also through art’s power to bring people together through joy and freedom of expression, and as a way of channelling your voice to tell your story. Art is often placed on a pedestal and described as a medium that is capable of transcending language, borders and difference. And while its ineffable quality is unarguable, art is undoubtedly political. It is, therefore, important to take a look at who is creating and for what reasons.
This report has chosen a range of examples of how art is used within the context of migration and asylum in Europe, grouped together under three headings - perspective, welcome and belonging, and resistance. It looks at projects and analyses and critiques ideas of voice, authorship and perspective, exploring how art can be used as a tool for welcome and integration between local and new communities, and showcasing different examples of how it can be used to resist.
Different art forms are examined: we take a look at filmmaking and authorship, exploring the idea of the importance of perspective and voice behind the camera, and looking at whose narrative is being presented on canvas; we discuss examples of different homegrown projects in Europe that blossomed from locals wanting to extend the hand of welcome to people who were new to their communities; we explore different forms of resistance - by European activists using currency to cleverly highlight the issues at borders, and by Hong Kong artists in exile in England.
Each section gives a different example of how art can be used to tell stories, highlight truths, and spread hope in an often hostile and negative context.
Europe Must Act by...
Being our eyes on the ground!
Have you spotted murals, graffiti pieces, stencils, stickers or artworks telling stories of migration, solidarity and belonging across your city?
We're collecting photos of street art across Europe to build a living map that captures the journeys, struggles and resilience of people on the move as well as the solidarity and resistance of ordinary people.
How to contribute:
Send us your photos and tell us where they were taken at hello@europemustact.org
Or
📷 Snap a picture of the artwork
📍 Add the city and use #WallsSpeak
🔄 Tag us in your post or send us a DM on Instagram
