28th April 2007 saw the official launch of Art Refuge UK, a charity founded to support newly arrived refugee Tibetan children in Kathmandu and Dharamsala. At the heart of Art Refuge UK is the Art Refuge programme which has been designed to provide a context in which the children can paint, play and explore their experiences in safety, supported by trained staff and volunteers.
Over 100 people visited the Sweet Tea House Gallery in Bethnal Green to see the launch exhibition ‘Journey into Exile’ which documents the concerns and experiences of the newly arrived children. Based around the themes of ‘Beginnings’, ‘Journey into Exile’ and ‘Visions of the Future’, the exhibition explores the children’s hopes and fears as depicted in their artwork and accounts of their life-histories.
The launch event and exhibition was opened by Gonkar Gyatso, contemporary artist and director of the Sweet Tea House, who welcomed visitors to the gallery and introduced Frances Fox, chair of Art Refuge UK trustees. Ms Fox thanked visitors to the exhibition for their support and good wishes and formally welcomed the guest of honour Ama Adhe.
Ama Adhe, assisted by Tsering Ngodup, has been invited by Art Refuge UK to visit London to give a series of public talks on the work of the Art Refuge programme and her own experiences of life in Tibet under Chinese occupation. Ama-la spoke movingly about the importance of the Art Refuge programme, formally thanked and presented katas to the trustees and past volunteers for their work in support of this programme and also extended her own welcome to the many international and local visitors to the exhibition. Members of the Tibetan community across the UK travelled to meet Ama-la, and talk with her about her life and work. We are honoured to have her with us.
For further details of Ama Adhe’s programme of talks in the UK see: www.artrefugeuk.org
