The first three exhibitions in a new year-long cultural programme at Boojum and Snark in Sandown are now open to the public.
Visitors can explore the new exhibitions on Fridays and Saturdays, marking the start of a full calendar of events planned for the space through to November 2025.
Art by young asylum seekers takes centre stage
The You+Me=Us exhibition includes powerful artwork by unaccompanied children seeking asylum after fleeing war torn countries, curated by artist and art facilitator, Elisa Ackroyd.
Elisa has spent the last three years running weekly art sessions at a residential centre in Brussels for children and young people who have arrived alone.
She says,
“Expressing themselves freely in a safe environment can help them process their experiences or simply relax for a bit and start to connect with themselves after usually a very long and dangerous journey.”
The work produced by the children and young people speaks volumes about their experiences, some of whom have never used a paint brush in their short lives, and all who have journeyed across continents without family.
Each piece is accompanied by a short written narrative, offering a personal insight into the emotional lives of the young artists.
You+Me=Us: a message of shared humanity
One young artist, 16-year-old Karim, titled his painting You+Me=Us, which became the name for this part of the exhibition.
Karim’s painting depicts a ship with shutters “that open and close for stability and direction.” As he painted, he said, “I could relax and stop thinking and thinking.”
A modern folktale of refuge
On the opposite wall, Chuffle tells the story of Tamillia, a tiger fleeing persecution and searching for a new home. This contemporary myth was created by Isle of Wight artists, Tracy Mikich and Teresa Grimaldi as an exploration of sanctuary and storytelling.
Tracy said,
“When Teresa and I began Chuffle, a story about a tiger fleeing persecution, we knew that the central themes were about seeking and finding refuge.
“It was inspired by the work of the Wildheart Sanctuary, but also an experiment in myth-making – a modern folktale if you will.”
The story has also been published as a booklet, developed in collaboration with Brevity – the Isle of Wight’s Literary Handbill – and poet Maggie Sawkins, with design and print by Tommy Brentnall.
Photographs that reveal global impact
Also featured are striking images by photojournalist Giles Clarke, who is known for documenting the effects of conflict on communities.
One photograph shows a student at Aal Okab School in Yemen, standing in the rubble of a classroom destroyed in 2015 during the country’s ongoing conflict.
A 2019 podcast conversation with Giles about his work is available via OnTheWight.
Opening times and visiting information
Boojum and Snark is open every Friday (11am–7pm) and Saturday (11am–5pm) from April to November.
Additional access will be available during events and workshops. Drinks and light refreshments are available during opening hours.
For more information, visit Boojum and Snark’s website.
