Exhibiting Artists: Safa Miqdad, Diabuah Chibuike Richard, Jose Ukachukwu

On Monday 16 June, join us in celebrating World Refugee Week with the launch of our Café Wall Exhibition, Impressions.

Impressions features the drawings by three artists from migrant backgrounds, and presents realistic portrayals of their lived experiences through self-portraits, depictions of significant persons, and details of daily life amidst adverse conditions.

Safa Miqdad is a Palestinian artist from Gaza. She started studying Arts Education / Digital Arts at Al-Aqsa University. After one year, she had to stop because of the genocide in Gaza. Safa uses her art to express her feelings and to show her life experiences. Art has become her way to deal with the emotions and challenges she faces.

‘This series shows part of the daily life that I was living and that the residents of Gaza are still living in, a reality that is harsher now, inside the war of genocide in Gaza.’

صفا مقداد فنانة فلسطينية من غزة. بدأت دراسة تخصص التربية الفنية /الفنون الرقمية في جامعة الأقصى، بعد عام واحد، اضطرت للتوقف بسبب الإبادة الجماعية في غزة. تستخدم صفا فنها للتعبير عن مشاعرها ولإظهار تجارب حياتها. أصبح الفن طريقها للتعامل مع المشاعر والتحديات التي تواجهها. هذه السلسلة تظهر جزء من الحياة اليومية التي كنت اعيشها ولازال سكان غزة يعيشونها بواقع أصعب الآن داخل حرب الإبادة في غزة.

Diabuah Chibuike Richard is a self-taught artist from Nigeria, based in Ireland. His primary focus is on realistic drawings and human portraits.

‘I hope to inspire viewers to appreciate the realistic beauty in black and white drawings. I’m open to learning new techniques and opportunities. My portrait captures the profound bond between my mother and me, conveying the love, memories, and longing that we share. Through this artwork, I aim to convey the depth of our relationship and the moments in time that have shaped me. She’s the cornerstone of my life, and this artwork is a heartfelt tribute to her unwavering love and support.’

Jose Ukachukwu was born on May 13, 2009, in Nigeria. He now lives in Ireland.

‘I am currently in 5th year and have a deep passion for learning, especially in subjects like biology, chemistry, art, and economics. Throughout my school years, I’ve been fortunate to earn many academic awards and win various sports competitions. Outside of academics, I enjoy dancing, drawing, singing, and reading, particularly novels and my biology textbook! I have big dreams for the future. I aspire to become a plastic surgeon, but I also hope to pursue careers in acting, modelling, athletics, influencing, and art. I believe in working hard, staying creative, and following every passion I have.’