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In Flux events explore the movement of people world-wide

Friday 12 December 2008

In Flux, an innovative series of events highlighting installations by the Leverhulme Trust artist-in-residence Marie Ange Bordas at the University of East London (UEL) and students at UEL examines themes of displacement, belonging and identity at the Docklands Campus.

In Flux focuses on collaborations with students from diverse backgrounds, including some who were former refugees. The work addresses issues of identities in flux and concludes in a series of multimedia installations inside the Campus and video and photo pieces in The Refugee Council Archive.

Marie’s provocative and haunting work is inspired by moving personal stories. There are images on screens showing bloodied feet being cleaned and boot laces being tied. The sound of a heartbeat and distant voices adds to the atmosphere. A branch suspended in mid air has a child’s white cotton dress spread across it with a photograph of a mother who lost her child in the centre.

Marie said: “In Flux is a work in progress for over three years now and was based on my own experiences living in refugee camps and shelters among displaced people. During these three years, my ideas about refugees have changed a lot.

“The installations are based on true stories of the people I encountered. The camps and shelters I lived in were around the world including in Uganda, Paris and Johannesburg. In these places, people often shared their experiences with me and asked me what their displacement was about and that was the question I wanted to address.”

Other aspects of In Flux include work from students from Anthropology of Refugees and Cultures of Exile presenting their photographs, sculpture, slideshows and other projects and a photographic exhibition in the Business School Foyer by MA student Ana Arenas, The Sahrawis and the Last Colony in Africa.

Dr Anita Fabos, Co-director of the Refugee Research Centre at UEL said: “Marie is a world class artist and we are delighted to have hosted her residency at the Refugee Research Centre at UEL. In Flux will affect everyone in an emotional way because it is very visually compelling.”

The creative projects produced by Anthropology of Refugees and Cultures of Exile students will be on display in the Library Foyer and the Refugee Archive from 11th to the 17th of December.

For more information contact UEL Press Office Hana Esselink 020 8223 6239 or 07595 056245

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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