Artists’ Flourish - Innovative exhibition aims to challenge assumptions about care system
Published: 4 June 2010
by JAMIE WELHAM
A NEW exhibition aimed at challenging assumptions about the care system has opened in Bloomsbury.
Flourish, which is being held at the Foundling Museum in Brunswick Square, is the best work from hundreds of entries from youngsters around the country, aged six to 25, either currently in or recently having left care. They include paintings, poetry, photography and video.
Kaveh Rahimi, 22, from Islington, who lived in a children’s home in Highbury from the age of 12, said he was overwhelmed with the response to his mini-documentary on youth centres.
“I am very proud. To be at the opening, surrounded by children with beaming smiles on their faces, was amazing.
“If you came here and weren’t told these works were done by kids in care, you would have thought you had walked into a professional show.
“I think it shows how important art is as a way of expressing yourself, especially for people who have grown up in often very tough circumstances,” he said.
Young people from Westminster also saw one of their pieces selected for the show – a black and white montage of animals by four children.
Flourish was set up in 2006 by youth workers at Newham council.
The exhibition runs until July 4. For more information and to see Mr Rahimi’s video visit www.flourish-art.org