The cultural nature of our modern society can only be truly represented and discussed by taking into account ideas around hybridity and displacement. Migration promotes a critical re-interpretation of our society and encourages discussions around the semantics of representation, belonging, identity, othering, and the concept of home. Therefore, cultural spaces as environments for representation, understanding and dialogue, ought to foster relevant discussions and encourage a true portrayal of our hybrid society by accommodating minority groups as equal protagonists and leaders in the cultural debate and, consequently, achieve visibility of political problems and a convergent sense of belonging..

The Hidden Gardens serves as a great metaphor for the hybrid nature of our Glaswegian society. It is a space where flora from different parts of the world inhabits the same land along an industrial, colonial building that reminds us the history that has shaped our post-colonial urban identity.

In response to such ideas, Distanced Assemblage -a Glasgow-based art collective- have developed this participatory, site-specific installation titled ‘I Am From Here, There’.

The piece features different elements that explore ongoing concerns within the collective’s socially-engaged practice. Such as the idea of cultural identity, nationhood and landlessness, brought up in the work by Mahmoud Darwish’s poem, ‘The Earth Is Closing On Us’. 

2021 SSA New Graduated award know more here.

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