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Shahed Saleem: Where Are You Really From?
An afternoon of film screenings, conversation, choir and spoken word considering what it means to migrate, to settle and to belong, with a focus on histories of East London.
Taking the 15th century Torrijos Ceiling and Shahed Saleem’s New Work: Making East London commission ‘I Was Born Here’ as a starting point, the programme will encourage thought and reflection on how we create cultures of inclusion and exclusion in Britain today.
1. Film Screenings + Conversation
2pm-3.30pm
Location: Creative Studios
1. Film Screenings + Conversation
2pm-3.30pm
Location: Creative Studios
A series of films to think about histories of racism and identity in East London, with a panel conversation exploring the themes raised in the films and discussing how the recent past informs youth identities and issues in East London today.
Film 1
Extract from the documentary film ‘Defiance’ (by Rogan Productions in association with Left Handed Films and WPP Motion Entertainment) about the 1978 murder of Altab Ali in Whitechapel and the anti-racist protest movements it inspired.
Extract from the documentary film ‘Defiance’ (by Rogan Productions in association with Left Handed Films and WPP Motion Entertainment) about the 1978 murder of Altab Ali in Whitechapel and the anti-racist protest movements it inspired.
Film 2
‘Chicken’
Set in Tower Hamlets, the award-winning short film explores the phenomenon of fried chicken shops and what they represent to the borough’s diverse communities, highlighting their role as cultural, social, and everyday spaces.
‘Chicken’
Set in Tower Hamlets, the award-winning short film explores the phenomenon of fried chicken shops and what they represent to the borough’s diverse communities, highlighting their role as cultural, social, and everyday spaces.
Film 3
‘The Long Goodbye’ by Riz Ahmed (2021), Oscar winning short film depicting the rise of racist violence in the UK.
‘The Long Goodbye’ by Riz Ahmed (2021), Oscar winning short film depicting the rise of racist violence in the UK.
A response to the films from a member of the V&A East Youth Collective
Panellists
Nurull Islam, Mile End Community Project
Fatima Rajina (Academic and founder of Nijjor Manush Works)
Youth Collective member
Moderator – Shahed Saleem
Panellists
Nurull Islam, Mile End Community Project
Fatima Rajina (Academic and founder of Nijjor Manush Works)
Youth Collective member
Moderator – Shahed Saleem
2. Participatory Choir by Bint Mbareh
3.45pm-4.30pm
Location: Gallery 3 (Torrijos Ceiling)
Vocalist and musician Bint Mbareh takes inspiration from Granada, a trilogy of novels by Egyptian author Radwa Ashour to create a human soundscape. Use your voice in unexpected ways to collectively create sounds with others resonating under the Torrijos Ceiling. Open to all.
3. Spoken Word + Conversation
4.45-6.15pm
Location: Gallery 3 (Torrijos Ceiling)
4.45-6.15pm
Location: Gallery 3 (Torrijos Ceiling)
Spoken word poetry performances followed by a conversation with the artists exploring how they use writing and performing to unpack complex themes and experiences through their work.
Kinan Salaam, a spoken word poet known for confronting Islamophobia through unapologetic, unfiltered, faith-rooted poetry. His work challenges stereotypes, calls out double standards, and speaks back to narratives that misrepresent Muslims.
Supported by:
Shazia Ali
Writer living in Hackney and full-time mother to 3 boys, as an English graduate and former solicitor writing is her long-standing practice.
Sam El-Bahja
A poet, architectural designer and co-founder of ISO collective, whose practice brings together storytelling and social engagement.
Shazia Ali
Writer living in Hackney and full-time mother to 3 boys, as an English graduate and former solicitor writing is her long-standing practice.
Sam El-Bahja
A poet, architectural designer and co-founder of ISO collective, whose practice brings together storytelling and social engagement.
Followed by a conversation with the performers with one member of the V&A East Youth Collective, and one member of the Youth Collective as moderator.
