it’s massively important that contemporary artists are addressing the
contemporary artists are addressing the
contemporary artists are addressing the most difficult issues that we’re facing
most difficult issues that we’re facing
most difficult issues that we’re facing at the moment well it’s kind of double
at the moment well it’s kind of double
at the moment well it’s kind of double edged piece because it’s a it’s an
edged piece because it’s a it’s an
edged piece because it’s a it’s an invitation to come and talk in a sort of
invitation to come and talk in a sort of
invitation to come and talk in a sort of traditional English setting with the
traditional English setting with the
traditional English setting with the carpet and armchairs and the table and a
carpet and armchairs and the table and a
carpet and armchairs and the table and a visitor’s book but at the same time it’s
visitor’s book but at the same time it’s
visitor’s book but at the same time it’s a van or a lorry with it refers to the
a van or a lorry with it refers to the
a van or a lorry with it refers to the way in which many refugees are smuggled
way in which many refugees are smuggled
way in which many refugees are smuggled across borders and are smuggled into the
across borders and are smuggled into the
across borders and are smuggled into the UK at the risk of their own lives I
UK at the risk of their own lives I
UK at the risk of their own lives I think the message of the truck is
think the message of the truck is
think the message of the truck is extremely powerful because it puts
extremely powerful because it puts
extremely powerful because it puts things into a scale I think once you’re
things into a scale I think once you’re
things into a scale I think once you’re in the truck and there were how many
in the truck and there were how many
in the truck and there were how many maybe 10 or 12 of us in there earlier it
maybe 10 or 12 of us in there earlier it
maybe 10 or 12 of us in there earlier it lets you see how small this space
lets you see how small this space
lets you see how small this space actually is I think again it goes down
actually is I think again it goes down
actually is I think again it goes down to that fact that it’s kind of all those
to that fact that it’s kind of all those
to that fact that it’s kind of all those kasha phobic space its kind of
kasha phobic space its kind of
kasha phobic space its kind of comfortable as well and it kind of makes
comfortable as well and it kind of makes
comfortable as well and it kind of makes you feel that okay this is you know I
you feel that okay this is you know I
you feel that okay this is you know I can kind of experience this for a second
can kind of experience this for a second
can kind of experience this for a second but then it also makes sheds light on
but then it also makes sheds light on
but then it also makes sheds light on the pure comfort that we actually have
the pure comfort that we actually have
the pure comfort that we actually have in the UK and that actually we don’t
in the UK and that actually we don’t
in the UK and that actually we don’t really have to experience anything of
really have to experience anything of
really have to experience anything of what there’s some of the horrific things
what there’s some of the horrific things
what there’s some of the horrific things the refugees do have to have to do to
the refugees do have to have to do to
the refugees do have to have to do to get it works like this can simplify
get it works like this can simplify
get it works like this can simplify things and can do things in a visual way
things and can do things in a visual way
things and can do things in a visual way or in a kind of performative way that
or in a kind of performative way that
or in a kind of performative way that arguments can’t settle and words can’t
arguments can’t settle and words can’t
arguments can’t settle and words can’t decide it’s a way of helping people to
decide it’s a way of helping people to
decide it’s a way of helping people to understand things that goes beyond words
understand things that goes beyond words
understand things that goes beyond words I think I can potentially be something
I think I can potentially be something
I think I can potentially be something to really help bring people together art
to really help bring people together art
to really help bring people together art means many different things to many
means many different things to many
means many different things to many different people and can take many
different people and can take many
different people and can take many different forms it can be blank canvas
different forms it can be blank canvas
different forms it can be blank canvas it can be a walk a set of sounds or it
it can be a walk a set of sounds or it
it can be a walk a set of sounds or it can be an idea that generates a spark
can be an idea that generates a spark
can be an idea that generates a spark that sets your imagination free but
that sets your imagination free but
that sets your imagination free but mostly importantly our
mostly importantly our
mostly importantly our should raise question should make you
should raise question should make you
should raise question should make you think and should speak up the truth as a
think and should speak up the truth as a
think and should speak up the truth as a conceptual artist working on certain
conceptual artist working on certain
conceptual artist working on certain issues such as taboos social stigma
issues such as taboos social stigma
issues such as taboos social stigma political situations I’m always asked
political situations I’m always asked
political situations I’m always asked but you think that art really can change
but you think that art really can change
but you think that art really can change or can make the difference towards these
or can make the difference towards these
or can make the difference towards these issues and especially with the art
issues and especially with the art
issues and especially with the art installation refugees welcome I’m always
installation refugees welcome I’m always
installation refugees welcome I’m always asked but you think especially we are
asked but you think especially we are
asked but you think especially we are talking off to the brexit era where I’m
talking off to the brexit era where I’m
talking off to the brexit era where I’m going around the touring the UK a mosque
going around the touring the UK a mosque
going around the touring the UK a mosque but do you think that the art can really
but do you think that the art can really
but do you think that the art can really have an effect on our political
have an effect on our political
have an effect on our political situation at the moment before I answer
situation at the moment before I answer
situation at the moment before I answer that before I come to that I really
that before I come to that I really
that before I come to that I really wanna just quote a quote by John Cage
wanna just quote a quote by John Cage
wanna just quote a quote by John Cage which he said that we need politicians
which he said that we need politicians
which he said that we need politicians today only to manage the traffic nothing
today only to manage the traffic nothing
today only to manage the traffic nothing else as they really do not have any
else as they really do not have any
else as they really do not have any influence on me art can influence masses
influence on me art can influence masses
influence on me art can influence masses and public understanding of what is
and public understanding of what is
and public understanding of what is important and how to look at it it
important and how to look at it it
important and how to look at it it creates discussion diversity of meanings
creates discussion diversity of meanings
creates discussion diversity of meanings and voices that hopefully can change
and voices that hopefully can change
and voices that hopefully can change something and when that changes
something and when that changes
something and when that changes something that shifts the thinking on
something that shifts the thinking on
something that shifts the thinking on people’s mind then that is great that is
people’s mind then that is great that is
people’s mind then that is great that is perfect because this is where I believe
perfect because this is where I believe
perfect because this is where I believe that art can make a difference I often
that art can make a difference I often
that art can make a difference I often use this saying when I say where
use this saying when I say where
use this saying when I say where language fails art can break through it
language fails art can break through it
language fails art can break through it connects you emotionally and that
connects you emotionally and that
connects you emotionally and that emotional connection with involvement of
emotional connection with involvement of
emotional connection with involvement of community and society being part of it
community and society being part of it
community and society being part of it can sometimes can spur thinking into
can sometimes can spur thinking into
can sometimes can spur thinking into actions and into doings sexual violence
actions and into doings sexual violence
actions and into doings sexual violence was not a rare and isolated act during
was not a rare and isolated act during
was not a rare and isolated act during the war in Kosovo was deliberately used
the war in Kosovo was deliberately used
the war in Kosovo was deliberately used by Serbian
by Serbian
by Serbian forces to as an instrument of war to
forces to as an instrument of war to
forces to as an instrument of war to terrorize the population and to push
terrorize the population and to push
terrorize the population and to push them to flee from their homes even today
them to flee from their homes even today
them to flee from their homes even today sexual violence is used as a weapon as
sexual violence is used as a weapon as
sexual violence is used as a weapon as an instrument of war and the survivors
an instrument of war and the survivors
an instrument of war and the survivors are still being globalised silenced and
are still being globalised silenced and
are still being globalised silenced and not being recognized so when I made
not being recognized so when I made
not being recognized so when I made thinking of you an art installation that
thinking of you an art installation that
thinking of you an art installation that is dedicated to the survivors of sexual
is dedicated to the survivors of sexual
is dedicated to the survivors of sexual violence during the war I wanted to call
violence during the war I wanted to call
violence during the war I wanted to call to break that silence a call to break
to break that silence a call to break
to break that silence a call to break the silence to fight the stigma a call
the silence to fight the stigma a call
the silence to fight the stigma a call to act to show solidarity and when I
to act to show solidarity and when I
to act to show solidarity and when I hung those five thousand dresses on a
hung those five thousand dresses on a
hung those five thousand dresses on a football stadium no one could look away
football stadium no one could look away
football stadium no one could look away from the reality that they were faced
from the reality that they were faced
from the reality that they were faced [Music]
the role of the artist depends pretty
the role of the artist depends pretty much from the personality of artists and
much from the personality of artists and
much from the personality of artists and they chose on subject matter but I
they chose on subject matter but I
they chose on subject matter but I really do believe that artists need to
really do believe that artists need to
really do believe that artists need to help the society not only to understand
help the society not only to understand
help the society not only to understand and to get to know something only with
and to get to know something only with
and to get to know something only with their minds intellectually but to feel
their minds intellectually but to feel
their minds intellectually but to feel it emotionally and physically it’s
it emotionally and physically it’s
it emotionally and physically it’s visual representation has to be able to
visual representation has to be able to
visual representation has to be able to go and reach and touch people beyond the
go and reach and touch people beyond the
go and reach and touch people beyond the borders my art practice touches on
borders my art practice touches on
borders my art practice touches on issues struggles fears and the truth of
issues struggles fears and the truth of
issues struggles fears and the truth of the society that I exist and my and my
the society that I exist and my and my
the society that I exist and my and my kind of aim is to inspire community to
kind of aim is to inspire community to
kind of aim is to inspire community to come together and do something about it
come together and do something about it
come together and do something about it kind of a conscious effort to
kind of a conscious effort to
kind of a conscious effort to participate in this movement change the
participate in this movement change the
participate in this movement change the social change movement and when that is
social change movement and when that is
social change movement and when that is done that is amazing because that’s what
done that is amazing because that’s what
done that is amazing because that’s what my aim is I the role of the artist again
my aim is I the role of the artist again
my aim is I the role of the artist again is not just to provide some artistic
is not just to provide some artistic
is not just to provide some artistic reference or some visual representation
reference or some visual representation
reference or some visual representation just for a time being just for a
just for a time being just for a
just for a time being just for a particular issue and then it’s forgotten
particular issue and then it’s forgotten
particular issue and then it’s forgotten but more what Fabiana rodriguez artist
but more what Fabiana rodriguez artist
but more what Fabiana rodriguez artist and an activist calls it a cultural
and an activist calls it a cultural
and an activist calls it a cultural strategy by shifting the thinking on own
strategy by shifting the thinking on own
strategy by shifting the thinking on own individuals groups societies and by
individuals groups societies and by
individuals groups societies and by exploring those gray areas those wrong
exploring those gray areas those wrong
exploring those gray areas those wrong thoughts and wrongdoings you uplift the
thoughts and wrongdoings you uplift the
thoughts and wrongdoings you uplift the hope so art is a cultural tool and it
hope so art is a cultural tool and it
hope so art is a cultural tool and it humanizes the emotions and the voices
humanizes the emotions and the voices
humanizes the emotions and the voices and the fears of those who do not have
and the fears of those who do not have
and the fears of those who do not have another place to voice their concerns
another place to voice their concerns
another place to voice their concerns during my installation refugees welcome
during my installation refugees welcome
during my installation refugees welcome which has a job in British Museum in
which has a job in British Museum in
which has a job in British Museum in London last year I’m touring around the
London last year I’m touring around the
London last year I’m touring around the UK at the moment and this is bricks
UK at the moment and this is bricks
UK at the moment and this is bricks after the brexit vote again this piece
after the brexit vote again this piece
after the brexit vote again this piece is inspired by real events
is inspired by real events
is inspired by real events I was in France in Calais and seeing
I was in France in Calais and seeing
I was in France in Calais and seeing refugees and migrants getting inside the
refugees and migrants getting inside the
refugees and migrants getting inside the truck trying to cross the channel to go
truck trying to cross the channel to go
truck trying to cross the channel to go to the UK it’s nothing new this has been
to the UK it’s nothing new this has been
to the UK it’s nothing new this has been done years and decades always this is
done years and decades always this is
done years and decades always this is how illegally you cross the channel but
how illegally you cross the channel but
how illegally you cross the channel but seeing that in front of me and feeling
seeing that in front of me and feeling
seeing that in front of me and feeling so hopeless not being able to help then
so hopeless not being able to help then
so hopeless not being able to help then I thought I will visualize it I will try
I thought I will visualize it I will try
I thought I will visualize it I will try to bring this piece into Britain
to bring this piece into Britain
to bring this piece into Britain especially as I said bricks it vote so I
especially as I said bricks it vote so I
especially as I said bricks it vote so I want to see how are they responding to
want to see how are they responding to
want to see how are they responding to that with a slogan fancy a tea with a
that with a slogan fancy a tea with a
that with a slogan fancy a tea with a refugee so I went to different places
refugee so I went to different places
refugee so I went to different places and I’m going around the whole corners
and I’m going around the whole corners
and I’m going around the whole corners of the UK to try to get get as many
of the UK to try to get get as many
of the UK to try to get get as many opinions and as many comments where I
opinions and as many comments where I
opinions and as many comments where I have this journal or this book where
have this journal or this book where
have this journal or this book where people write their thoughts but at that
people write their thoughts but at that
people write their thoughts but at that moment when I saw that in Calais the
moment when I saw that in Calais the
moment when I saw that in Calais the truck for the moment it was this thin
truck for the moment it was this thin
truck for the moment it was this thin line of a hope of a welcome but then at
line of a hope of a welcome but then at
line of a hope of a welcome but then at the same time it was like a tomb because
the same time it was like a tomb because
the same time it was like a tomb because so many died through that journey so I
so many died through that journey so I
so many died through that journey so I wanted to create this welcome Britain
wanted to create this welcome Britain
wanted to create this welcome Britain Britain that I know personally that I
Britain that I know personally that I
Britain that I know personally that I was so well invited I went there in 97
was so well invited I went there in 97
was so well invited I went there in 97 to study art and then I I was there in
to study art and then I I was there in
to study art and then I I was there in 99 so I couldn’t go back so I became a
99 so I couldn’t go back so I became a
99 so I couldn’t go back so I became a refugee
refugee
refugee so what Britain gave me it shaped me who
so what Britain gave me it shaped me who
so what Britain gave me it shaped me who I am today
I am today
I am today it gave me higher education it gave me
it gave me higher education it gave me
it gave me higher education it gave me freedom of speech and everything so I
freedom of speech and everything so I
freedom of speech and everything so I really kind of own it and I’m thankful
really kind of own it and I’m thankful
really kind of own it and I’m thankful to the society that made me so welcome
to the society that made me so welcome
to the society that made me so welcome and so safe in that country in order for
and so safe in that country in order for
and so safe in that country in order for me to release my potential and my
me to release my potential and my
me to release my potential and my talents the installation is very simple
talents the installation is very simple
talents the installation is very simple where are two chairs as you saw it in
where are two chairs as you saw it in
where are two chairs as you saw it in the video and the artist is present so
the video and the artist is present so
the video and the artist is present so basically people are invited to have a
basically people are invited to have a
basically people are invited to have a tea with me and to share their thoughts
tea with me and to share their thoughts
tea with me and to share their thoughts or on welcome Britain or what’s
or on welcome Britain or what’s
or on welcome Britain or what’s happening with the Solidarity of British
happening with the Solidarity of British
happening with the Solidarity of British people or that brexit era when they said
people or that brexit era when they said
people or that brexit era when they said about brexit Britain has spoken this is
about brexit Britain has spoken this is
about brexit Britain has spoken this is the journal is my Britain has spoken
the journal is my Britain has spoken
the journal is my Britain has spoken people are because this is a Britain
people are because this is a Britain
people are because this is a Britain walk on without propaganda without the
walk on without propaganda without the
walk on without propaganda without the brainwashing it’s real facts emotional
brainwashing it’s real facts emotional
brainwashing it’s real facts emotional facts of the community society being
facts of the community society being
facts of the community society being part of it I just want to mention one
part of it I just want to mention one
part of it I just want to mention one again where the art kind of made a
again where the art kind of made a
again where the art kind of made a difference this guy he it was this march
difference this guy he it was this march
difference this guy he it was this march on Tate Modern where the art
on Tate Modern where the art
on Tate Modern where the art installation was presented and there was
installation was presented and there was
installation was presented and there was this guy who was very agitated and he
this guy who was very agitated and he
this guy who was very agitated and he didn’t want to come inside the truck
didn’t want to come inside the truck
didn’t want to come inside the truck after hour by coming in and out kind of
after hour by coming in and out kind of
after hour by coming in and out kind of outside I approached him and I said you
outside I approached him and I said you
outside I approached him and I said you fancy a tea with the refugee and he said
fancy a tea with the refugee and he said
fancy a tea with the refugee and he said not really because I do not share your
not really because I do not share your
not really because I do not share your views and I really do not believe that
views and I really do not believe that
views and I really do not believe that refugees are welcome here and there is
refugees are welcome here and there is
refugees are welcome here and there is no more room left and I said yeah that’s
no more room left and I said yeah that’s
no more room left and I said yeah that’s fine because I need views like you in
fine because I need views like you in
fine because I need views like you in order to make the work kind of complete
order to make the work kind of complete
order to make the work kind of complete and he came in and obviously he told me
and he came in and obviously he told me
and he came in and obviously he told me that there is no more room left we have
that there is no more room left we have
that there is no more room left we have done enough and then I said okay it’s
done enough and then I said okay it’s
done enough and then I said okay it’s fine but I’m gonna tell you my story and
fine but I’m gonna tell you my story and
fine but I’m gonna tell you my story and I told him my story how I came what I am
I told him my story how I came what I am
I told him my story how I came what I am today and how today in Britain I’m
today and how today in Britain I’m
today and how today in Britain I’m referred as Kosovo born British artist
referred as Kosovo born British artist
referred as Kosovo born British artist so he said yeah but kind of you are
so he said yeah but kind of you are
so he said yeah but kind of you are different I said no I am different
different I said no I am different
different I said no I am different because I felt safe and welcome in this
because I felt safe and welcome in this
because I felt safe and welcome in this country because I believe when people
country because I believe when people
country because I believe when people are safe and welcome to any country they
are safe and welcome to any country they
are safe and welcome to any country they always give more than they take because
always give more than they take because
always give more than they take because as I said the potential and their
as I said the potential and their
as I said the potential and their talents slowly comes out it later on
talents slowly comes out it later on
talents slowly comes out it later on after 20 minutes of talking with him he
after 20 minutes of talking with him he
after 20 minutes of talking with him he kind of was more at ease and then he
kind of was more at ease and then he
kind of was more at ease and then he even ordered tea and he said to me that
even ordered tea and he said to me that
even ordered tea and he said to me that I’m glad I made this stop because I kind
I’m glad I made this stop because I kind
I’m glad I made this stop because I kind of have a different views now about
of have a different views now about
of have a different views now about refugees then he left I don’t know if I
refugees then he left I don’t know if I
refugees then he left I don’t know if I changed his mind my intention was not to
changed his mind my intention was not to
changed his mind my intention was not to change his mind my intention was for him
change his mind my intention was for him
change his mind my intention was for him to leave with something that wasn’t
to leave with something that wasn’t
to leave with something that wasn’t there before and I’m sure he did so this
there before and I’m sure he did so this
there before and I’m sure he did so this thank you so I think this is what make
thank you so I think this is what make
thank you so I think this is what make this all art practice world wild having
this all art practice world wild having
this all art practice world wild having access to masses and making an art piece
access to masses and making an art piece
access to masses and making an art piece under the skyline so everyone is
under the skyline so everyone is
under the skyline so everyone is involved Society meanings different
involved Society meanings different
involved Society meanings different views and not only to a few to a
views and not only to a few to a
views and not only to a few to a particular group or who you who you
particular group or who you who you
particular group or who you who you belong to like we do back home I’m gonna
belong to like we do back home I’m gonna
belong to like we do back home I’m gonna end this talk by telling you a very
end this talk by telling you a very
end this talk by telling you a very short story and from maybe some of you
short story and from maybe some of you
short story and from maybe some of you know which is making a difference the
know which is making a difference the
know which is making a difference the starfish story as a mother of four
starfish story as a mother of four
starfish story as a mother of four telling a story it’s my daily practice
telling a story it’s my daily practice
telling a story it’s my daily practice so I will end up with a short story
so I will end up with a short story
so I will end up with a short story one morning an old man walking into the
one morning an old man walking into the
one morning an old man walking into the beach after a big big storm the night
beach after a big big storm the night
beach after a big big storm the night before and he walks and as he walks he
before and he walks and as he walks he
before and he walks and as he walks he sees loads of starfish’s into the kind
sees loads of starfish’s into the kind
sees loads of starfish’s into the kind of the shore because the storm has
of the shore because the storm has
of the shore because the storm has brought lots of starfish into the shore
brought lots of starfish into the shore
brought lots of starfish into the shore in the distance he sees a little girl
in the distance he sees a little girl
in the distance he sees a little girl and she’s the little girl is tossing the
and she’s the little girl is tossing the
and she’s the little girl is tossing the starfish back into the ocean one by one
starfish back into the ocean one by one
starfish back into the ocean one by one one by one and he goes and he approaches
one by one and he goes and he approaches
one by one and he goes and he approaches her and he says little girl what are you
her and he says little girl what are you
her and he says little girl what are you doing there’s thousand and thousand of
doing there’s thousand and thousand of
doing there’s thousand and thousand of starfish it’s impossible to make a
starfish it’s impossible to make a
starfish it’s impossible to make a difference you know there you can never
difference you know there you can never
difference you know there you can never bring them all back to the water and the
bring them all back to the water and the
bring them all back to the water and the little girl looks back at him and yet
little girl looks back at him and yet
little girl looks back at him and yet she tossed it was another starfish back
she tossed it was another starfish back
she tossed it was another starfish back into the ocean and she said well it made
into the ocean and she said well it made
into the ocean and she said well it made a difference for that one and to the
a difference for that one and to the
a difference for that one and to the other one and to the other one so then
other one and to the other one so then
other one and to the other one so then people watching mused in the beach and
people watching mused in the beach and
people watching mused in the beach and everyone starts picking up the
everyone starts picking up the
everyone starts picking up the starfish’s and puts them back into the
starfish’s and puts them back into the
starfish’s and puts them back into the ocean what I’m trying to say is that we
ocean what I’m trying to say is that we
ocean what I’m trying to say is that we can all make a difference and create a
can all make a difference and create a
can all make a difference and create a positive change especially when we are
positive change especially when we are
positive change especially when we are tackling social issues social massive
tackling social issues social massive
tackling social issues social massive problems and issues and I hope that this
problems and issues and I hope that this
problems and issues and I hope that this talk will encourage all of us to come
talk will encourage all of us to come
talk will encourage all of us to come forward and
forward and
forward and speak up as only together we can make a
speak up as only together we can make a
speak up as only together we can make a difference
difference
difference [Applause]
”
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