Seeking Humanity

I have drawn portraits of 39 refugees and asylum seekers in collaboration with The Asylum Seekers Centre, Sydney. I hope this project contributes positively in creating public awareness of the challenges faced and that it may introduce us to a few of these people. All of the portraits are in full colour and are drawn in pastel. They are drawn from life in 2-3 hours.

I chose to draw people:

Who are living legally in the community while they wait for their applications for protection to be processed.

Who have recently been granted protection and are starting to rebuild their lives in Australia.

Who Came to Australia in earlier periods and have since made an enormous contribution to Australia.

This is not about politics.

It is about our common humanity... I want to show that they are people like us, with the same hopes and dreams. Many of those I have met during this project have fled situations of great danger, whether it is political, cultural or religious.

I cannot even imagine how it would feel to have to leave everything behind. But they have had to leave their family, their home, their culture and their country. They have survived and are now focussed on rebuilding their lives, starting all over again. They have been an incredible inspiration.

Wendy Sharpe was delighted to be welcomed as an Ambassador of The Asylum Seekers Centre. -website link

One of the most rewarding aspects of the project has been to see the asylum seekers relax while I draw them. They ask me to see them for the people they really are, not a group of people who have been given a label. They say that just for a few hours, it is an escape from the daily stress and worry about their current and future lives.

Wendy Sharpe - Seeeking Humanity - Time Lapse Video

Wendy and Antionette. I gave those asylum seekers and refugees who participated a small signed copy of their portrait to as a personal thank you.

Early in 2015 with all the portraits completed an exhibition was formed in conjunction with the Asylum Seekers Centre in Sydney. Cards accompanying each portrait contained a brief story about why they came here, their hopes and dreams for the future, as well as their personal interests.
I did not be receive any commission at all, from the exhibition, I felt it would be wrong to do so. All money raised went to support the Asylum Seekers Centre. The Centre provides personal and practical support to over 1,500 asylum seekers, such as legal advice, accommodation, health care, food and employment assistance. As a grassroots, non-profit organisation, it has to rely on grants, donations and volunteers to undertake its work.

After kicking off in Sydney the exhibition moved to Canberra then Penrith Regional Gallery. I wanted to attract people who have not been involved with asylum seekers but are concerned or confused about who they are and why they come to Australia.

Photograph: The Canberra exhibition. One of the most rewarding aspects of the project has been to see the asylum seekers relax while I draw them. They ask me to see them for the people they really are, not a group of people who have been given a label.