From Turkey to England by boat
Object
Suitcase sculpture
Production date
2001
Object number
2010.85
Physical Description
A two-sided painted wooden model of a boat sailing from Turkey to England. One side shows the boat at night on the sea, the other in daytime.
Object history
The sculpture was made by a Hackney pupil as part of the Suitcase Sculptures project. The museum worked with children at Shacklewell JMI School and May Ayres, a local artist, to create small hand held sculptures about the children’s experiences of living in and moving to Hackney. The class include children who had moved for many different reasons, such as "because there is a war in my country" to a girl whose family have "always lived here". An exhibition of the sculptures, accompanying stories, photographs and drawings was opened to mark the beginning of Refugee Week 2001, and displayed at Stoke Newington Library Foyer.
Personal experiences
‘...my dad coming from sunny Turkey to a cloudy England by boat because he didn’t like the Turkish Government...’ Sidar, aged 8.
Sidar’s Suitcase Sculpture depicts how his father came to the United Kingdom from Turkey in the late 1980s because of his political ideology, which the Turkish government at the time opposed. The project was a reflection of his dad's journey to come to the UK and explains the struggles of not only his father but thousands of political refugees during this period.
Sidar’s Suitcase Sculpture depicts how his father came to the United Kingdom from Turkey in the late 1980s because of his political ideology, which the Turkish government at the time opposed. The project was a reflection of his dad's journey to come to the UK and explains the struggles of not only his father but thousands of political refugees during this period.
Associated Event
Associated Person
Acil, Sidar (Made by)
Material
Wood
On display?
Yes