The art of arrival

ARTIST STATEMENT: GIOVAN BETSKA

Born in Albania, my father taught me the ways of foraging and forged a love for nature within me. Later I studied Fine Arts in Tirana, Albania.

Later in my twenties I moved to Greece, where I honed my mastery of portraits. I would sketch portraits of tourists, who were visiting Greece. I then met my partner, and started a family before moving to Suffolk. It was the moment of flying to the United Kingdom which I have focussed upon for this painting. When I travelled by aeroplane to the UK it was terrible weather. The sky was dark and there was a strong wind. The journey was really awful. In the car from Stansted to Suffolk the sky suddenly cleared and the sunlight came out, it was a beautiful day and the fields were green.

Please enjoy my painting which captures the moment I arrived in the United Kingdom. The simplicity of my piece, which communicates the foggy and cloudy morning. Evoking feelings and memories, shared by many others.

This painting encapsulates the significance of my moving to Ipswich, I have used soft colours in the background with sun rays coming through and expanding the greater meaning of the piece. I relied upon my imagination to sketch the exact moment of my arrival which remains in the foreground with the pattern of the flower of life behind it, which enhances the effect of the expanding sunrays. This painting serves as a visual representation of my personal transformation, serving as not only emotional uniqueness for me, but for so many others that have travelled to Ipswich.

ARTIST STATEMENT: CATALINA CARVAJAL

Catalina is a Colombian visual artist and illustrator based in Ipswich and working around the UK. Catalina's work is a vibrant fusion of her Latin American heritage and the influences of her life in the UK, resulting in a truly unique perspective. Migration from Colombia to Mexico and then to the UK has had a profound impact on Catalina's life, as it has shaped and reshaped her particular view of the world and her approach to life at a personal and professional level. She's had access to various experiences that have influenced her subjects and compositions and even the scale of her work. Adaptability and adventure come in many forms for her, and she feels lucky she can transmit them through her artwork, from small digital pieces to public murals.

'A Bird Told Me' shares a story about many worlds. Throughout the years, I've developed a way of telling stories that reflect my experiences. The UK remains intriguing in many ways, and that is exciting. We didn't need fireplaces where I grew up, back in Bogota, Colombia, as the weather was mild and there were no extreme seasonal changes. I can't deny I miss the warm waters of the Caribbean (where I used to travel every time I could), the magnificence of the mountains, and the idiosyncrasies of the people in my home country. I've found different richness and things to cherish in the UK. Still, when I miss the warmth during winter, the burning wood by the fireplace makes me feel closer to the heat of the tropics. It opens the space for me to reimagine and cherish my previous lives and to embrace and appreciate what I have in the moment and all the beauty accumulated throughout the years.

ARTIST STATEMENT: FLORA CALIVANGUE

 “In my home in my own” Acrylic portrait painting, within this piece is an expression of embracing my Angolan heritage and culture. Throughout my journey migrating to a new country I have often struggled with my self identity and hid down my African heritage and blackness.

Within the portrait lies a traditional Angolan Chowke mask, this item I have in my home. We had brought the mask when I first went to Angola in 2011, where I finally got to see my homeland and the home of my ancestors. The piece reflects my cultural ancestors watching over me. Within the piece are the colours that represent the flag of my heritage. In this piece I want to demonstrate the significance of the culture of migrants bringing a piece of their roots, home land and culture, whether that's by holding a culture figraine, mask, food, music and clothing. This is held dearly as it brings us comfort and proudness of where we came from and that these cultural pieces reinforce proudness and an embracing of our culture in times where you are told you cannot, these reminders from home allow us to remember who we are.

ARTIST STATEMENT: DENDA DIVIS

I grew up in Brno, in the Czech Republic and came to England about 4 years ago to study design and illustration at the University of Suffolk. My first year here was very challenging. I didn't know anyone here and covid was at its worst. Eventually I started engaging with the local communities in Ipswich and that's when it started feeling like home here. I have met so many amazing people who make Ipswich a place where people can feel like they belong and their skills are valuable to the others around them. I feel very proud of the fact I was given the opportunity to represent my culture for the Arrivals project. It gave a healthy amount of challenge and I can proudly know that my painting will be at the Hold Archives for a very long time, maybe forever.