Join Voices of Colour as they share stories which respond to the content explored by Khadim Ali‘s Invisible Border. Like Ali’s work, which poetically explores the experience of displaced people across the globe, spoken word artists Lamisse Hamouda, Serina O’Connor, and Naavikaran will explore the theme of exile in its many forms whether it be personal, political, or geographical.
Voices of Colour is a platform for artists from diverse and marginalised communities. They create an environment where young people who identify themselves as people of colour or as First Nations people can share their stories through performance and art, spilling their reality onto the microphone and altering mindsets and perspectives.
This event will be in the IMA gallery and livestreamed online here.
Accessibility information:
We are committed to making the IMA accessible to people of all abilities, their families, and carers as well as visitors of different ages and different backgrounds. There is wheelchair access and an accessible toilet with baby changing facilities also located on the ground floor and we welcome guide and support dogs. Find out more about the accessibility of our facilities and program here.
COVID safety advice:
—Stay at home if unwell or have a cough, fever, sore throat, fatigue or shortness of breath.
—If you become unwell during the event locate an IMA staff member.
—Maintaining physical distancing is the individual’s responsibility.
-
Lamisse Hamouda
Lamisse is a writer, creative producer, youth worker, abolition feminist, and lover of all things creative from Naarm, and currently based in Meanjin. Her pronouns are She/Her. Lamisse is from an Arab-diaspora/white-settler background—she seeks to find ways to live ethically on stolen land and contribute to the decolonisation of Australia. Lamisse spent five years as a youth worker, working alongside young people seeking asylum and refuge in Australia. During this time, she completed a Bachelor of Arts (Governance and International Relations) at the University of Sydney. While a university student, Lamisse attended the 60th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women as a Global Voices Scholar, and was a student at the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations Summer School. Lamisse also featured in the Australian documentary, ‘The Mosque Next Door.’ Her poetry was published in the anthology, “Arab, Australian, Other: Stories of Race and Identity” and her written work has appeared in publications such as The Age, New Matilda, Hot Chicks with Big Brains, and Djed Press. She is currently an associate producer at Metro Arts and runs the Logan-based open-mic, Poetry in the Park. Her first book will be published with Pantera Press in 2022.
Serina O'Connor
Born in far north Queensland and raised on Yolngu country in North-East Arnhem Land, Rina a young Papua New Guinean woman is an emerging singer, songwriter and poet. Her sweet, soulful, and smooth sound fuses culture with raw emotion and passionate energy. Rina has performed at prestigious events such as the Garma Festival, the NATSIAA awards as well as performing with artists such as Emily Wurramara and Yirrmal Marika. From gospel to traditional, pop to soul and leading musical theatre roles in QPAC productions Rina’s versatility and breadth of talent bring forth an exciting new era of young powerful women in the arts.
Naavikaran
Naavikaran is an all-round goddess in the form of a multi-gender trans woman, badass entrepreneur, community educator, organiser, writer, and choreographer from India, based in Meanjin (Brisbane). Their work creates platforms for accessible and safe storytelling for identities of various intersections and communities. Naavikaran was named one of the 30 Under 30 LGBTIQ+ Leaders in Australia by Out For Australia in 2019 for their contributions to the community. As a theatre producer and performer they starred in The Neighbourhood by La Boite Theatre Company, Future Ancestors by Metro Arts Theatre and Tales From The Colony by The Skin Deep Collective. Naavikaran is the founder of ruhmantic, a royal chai brand and experience that is aimed to support artists and storytellers of colour. Their latest track ‘The Closet’ and ‘Mansion of Grace’ can be found on all streaming platforms, including Spotify. Naavikaran’s pronouns are she/they. They can be found on all social media platforms @naavikaran.
Naavikaran. Courtesy of the artist.
