A giant recreation of a photographic portrait by acclaimed South Sudanese artist Atong Atem has been unveiled today in Sydney’s Martin Place to mark World Refugee Day.
The printed ground decal titled Three Women stretches over seven metres long and five metres wide, and will be displayed in Sydney’s CBD between Elizabeth Street and Phillip Street.
The large-scale installation is a collaboration between Atem and Australia for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency’s partner in Australia, who work to mobilise individuals, community groups and businesses to support refugees and displaced people.
The installation hopes to offer onlookers a visual reflection of identity, displacement, and resilience on a day dedicated to honouring the strength, courage, and contributions of individuals who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict or persecution.
Passersbys are encouraged to share a message of solidarity for refugees on a message board next to the installation, as well as purchase tote bags designed by Atem with proceeds supporting Australia for UNHCR.
For Atem, the collaboration with UNHCR is a special one — she was six years old when she traveled from Ethiopia to Australia with her family with the support of the agency.
“This partnership is quite a personal thing for me because my family was supported by UNHCR to come to Australia as refugees,” the Melbourne-based artist said in a statement.
“I love organisations that help people in need, especially those that are unable to advocate for themselves or are at the whim of the global limbo of politics.”
Three Women is a striking visual portrait of three South Sudanese women, all with refugee backgrounds or a refugee experience. Like Atem’s other artworks, the work explores themes of identity, home and belonging, while challenging traditional colonial representations of migrants.
Atem described the artwork as one which acknowledges refugees in a way that does not centre their trauma.
“Having this work featured in such a prominent place in Sydney on World Refugee Day is such a big deal and I hope that when people come across it, they’re at the very least asking questions,” Atem said.
“I hope that in some small way they’re able to challenge the idea of what a good or deserving refugee is. I think historically we’ve been told that refugees should only be welcome here because they have the potential to be, say, a doctor or a lawyer or something that we socially assign as extremely important. As an artist, it may be harder to see the tangible way I impact the world in which I live, but I think it’s there through conversation, philosophy, beautification and connection.”
Atem, 31, has exhibited her work at the Tate Modern, London National Gallery of Victoria, Art Gallery of New South Wales, National Portrait Gallery, Immigration Museum, Gertrude Contemporary and Australian Centre for Contemporary Art.
UNHCR CEO Trudi Mitchell said the agency is “delighted to partner with Atong Atem to celebrate World Refugee Day in such a visible, creative, and thought-provoking way.”
“For the next week, thousands of people will see this stunning artwork on a grand scale” she said. “It is a powerful reminder of the different contributions refugees make to our communities, including as storytellers, artists, and advocates.”
“Public art has a unique power to stop people in their tracks – to invite empathy, spark questions and shift perspectives,” Mitchell added. “That’s what Atong’s work does, and we are so proud to help share it.”
The installation will be on display until Friday 27 June.
Become a Women’s Agenda Foundation member and support our work! We are 100% independent and women-owned. Every day, we cover the news from a women’s perspective, advocating for women’s safety, economic security, health and opportunities. Foundation memberships are currently just $5 a month. Bonus: you’ll receive our weekly editor’s wrap of the key stories to know every Saturday. Become a member here.