Majid Adin - our resident artist, Refugee Week

My name is Majid Adin. I’m a filmmaker, a writer and an artist. I had to flee my home in Iran because I criticised the government on my blog. In late 2015, my journey as a refugee began. I made the treacherous journey by boat to Greece, through Serbia and on to Calais and finally to the UK.

 I spent six months in the Calais Jungle, attempting to make my way across the Channel. Eventually, I arrived in England in a refrigerated van on April 23rd, 2016, coincidentally marking the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death. My graphic novel, “Hamid and Shakespeare,” explores the imagined friendship between Hamid, an unknown refugee, and Shakespeare. The book offers a narrative filled with humour, fantasy, drama, and tragedy.

 Since finding safety in the UK, I’ve worked with artists such as Elton John. I won a competition to produce an animation for Elton John’s song “Rocket Man,” drawing inspiration from my experiences as a refugee travelling across continents to find a new home.

I remember the faces of the people I met on my journey. All the people who helped me when I was feeling cold and low. I remember the winter in the ‘Jungle’ and the volunteers that gave me the materials to build a shelter so I could survive the winter. I would tell them of my dream to be an artist in the UK, and how I would help them one day.

My story isn’t unique. In every place I have been, I have heard the story of people’s journey and their struggle for a safe and peaceful life. I keep thinking of these stories when I look outside and see the rain hit the streets in the UK. I think about the people who are still searching in the cold, still looking for help and hoping for peace.

The number of displaced people is at a record high, and now stands greater than the total population of the UK. It can feel impossible to understand that every one of those people is an individual person, with a family, friends, and hopes and dreams. Mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters.