Artists in Support of Refugees: A Discussion

Anny Shaw chairs a panel discussion with speakers The Connor Brothers (Mike Snelle and James Golding), Aphrodite Gonou and Ossian Ward examining art and artists that work in support of refugees. With the European migrant crisis intensifying, this discussion examines the issues motivating and arising from art made in response to the crisis and artists working to aid it.

Artists both sides of the English Channel and beyond rallied in support of the estimated 6,000 refugees who were living in dire conditions in the camp in Calais known as the Jungle, which was largely dismantled last month. London-based artists The Connor Brothers discuss the issues that urged them to found Refugee Response Foundation, a charity that led a project building wooden shelters in the camp. After several building trips in Calais, the artist duo are now planning to go to Greece.

Artist Ai Weiwei has set-up a studio on the Greek island of Lesbos, the main point of entry into the EU for people fleeing to Europe, and is now set to produce several projects about the crisis. Ossian Ward and Aphrodite Gonou discuss Weiwei’s unfolding works and the complexities that arise from this embedded approach to practice.

The work of artists The Connor Brothers (Mike Snelle and James Golding) often reinterprets objects from the past, casting a critical at contemporary culture. Their work can be found in collections worldwide including The Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Aphrodite Gonou is advisor for the contemporary art programme of the archaeological Cycladic Museum in Athens, Greece.

Anny Shaw is a freelance art journalist and UK correspondent for The Art Newspaper.

Ossian Ward is Head of Content at Lisson Gallery and author of Ways of Looking: How to Experience Contemporary Art.

Presented in partnership with Refugee Response Foundation, proceeds raised from ticket sales will go towards supporting refugees in Calais.