Seeds of Change — Sahra Hersi Studio

Newham Council

Seeds of Change

2024

Riso printed poster designed by Sahra Hersi

♥ Client: Newham Council
♥ Year: 2024
♥ Location: Newham, London

Seeds of Change: Celebrating Islam was a temporary installation exploring themes of faith, connection to Allah (God), community, and safety. It was commissioned by Newham Council as the centrepiece of Seeds of Change, the borough's Islamophobia Awareness Month programme for 2024, and 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 installation opened with an evening featuring a talk on the development of the work and a live performance by Kadialy Kouyate, a celebrated kora player and griot whose musical legacy has enriched London's cultural landscape since his arrival in the UK. It was open to the public from 25 to 30 November 2024 at Applecart Arts.

Designed by Sahra Hersi and fabricated by Red Collective London.

Sahra Hersi speaking at the opening of Seeds of Change, Applecart Arts, 2024. Photography by Sylvie Belbouab.

Seeds of Change tent installation at Applecart Arts, 2024. Photography by Sylvie Belbouab..

Kadialy Kouyate performing live at Seeds of Change, Applecart Arts, 2024. Photography by Sylvie Belbouab.

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