A new exhibition opened at the Street Level Photoworks last night celebrates the cultural diversity of this unique community in a visually stunning collection of co-produced works.

By Rhiannon Davies

The Govanhill Culture Collective exhibition celebrate the culmination of a year-long artist residency in Govanhill by lead artist Morwenna Kearsley working with supporting artist, Alex Popa. It opened last night in Street Level Photoworks gallery in Trongate with a packed turn out. One attendee commented that it felt like Govanhill had decamped north of the river for the evening.

Govanhill, which is sometimes described as the Ellis Island of Scotland, has a unique history in Scotland as it has seen different waves of immigrants arrive, settle, and make their home in this neighbourhood. By partnering with various, established community groups and working to co-produce new works, the exhibition showcases the cultural diversity of the area, reclaiming the narrative to show individuals and their stories in their chosen light.

Community projects and organisations involved with the exhibition include MILK Café, Unity Sisters, Romano Lav, Greater Govanhill CIC, the Govanhill Housing Association, Thriving Places Govanhill and Bike For Good. While workshops took place in Wee Plates & Bees Knees Cafe.

One of the projects featured, My Mother, My Country, includes portraits and street photography by Sareh Abasi, Syeda Sadaf Anwar, Najat El Bouhali, Lydia Gitamvu, Morwenna Kearsley and Farzana Kousar. Made during a series of weekly workshops, the photographs represent friendship, curiosity, and humour – with a touch of glamour thrown in. They speak of the resilience and creativity of the women who have made a home in Scotland for themselves and their families, yet still feel that connection to their home countries.

The title is taken from a poem written by Najat in a creative writing session:

I remember freedom;
I remember independence;
I remember my infancy;
I remember my adolescence, beauty;
My friends, my family, my mother, my country.

Portraits of young Roma people living in the area were inspired by photographs of famous Roma people from the past, those who have not received the recognition they deserve. The group worked as models, make-up artists, directors, lighting technicians and photographers to create striking images in black and white.

Read more: Astar e iag - the Roma community in Govanhill is keeping the flame alive

And a film entitled Cyclops was created together with young people involved with The Bike Project at Bike For Good. Over the course of eight weeks, they cycled around Govanhill filming themselves and each other to create an archive of footage which has been turned into a video and a zine by Morwenna and Alex.

Also on display were three of the images from Greater Govanhill’s upcoming exhibition FONDS: Objects Speak Louder Than Words. Featured were a photo of hearing aids belonging to Rachael Macleod, a china figurine belong to Anne Milne and a model Kuwaiti Boom boat belonging to Esraa Ben-Husain.

Speaking about seeing her hearing aids displayed in the gallery in this way, Rachael said it made her quite emotional: “It was beautiful because they’re right here. So the minute, I walked in I felt really emotional. I felt it was lovely to see my hearing aids there looking like art. I’ve never seen in that way before. It’s important as it means I can help to raise awareness about deafness.”

The FONDS: Objects Speak Louder Than Words exhibition will be on display in the windows of shops and cafes in Govanhill from the 12-31 August. Our launch event will be held on the 12 August at The New Phoenix Cinema run by GAMIS on Niddrie Road. More info here.