King's College London

The exhibition featured artwork created earlier in the year through a competition that brought together artists and academics from across the world to create artworks that express research findings on social challenges.

Addressing social issues through art

The exhibition also featured works created during a festival workshop facilitated by artist Joanna Mamede. The focus was on how art has been used to address pressing social issues in various contexts. Participants were given the opportunity to apply these insights to their own projects, choosing a topic that resonated with them. The workshop attracted a diverse group of researchers and civil society representatives, all of whom use art as a medium to communicate, overcome division and foster unity.

Art as a platform for dialogue and collaboration

The exhibition underscored the powerful role of art in promoting collaboration among diverse groups, as attendees explored its potential to bring people together. It also created a meaningful platform for networking and discussions about the ideas conveyed through the artworks. 'I use rich pictures to explain difficult concepts and complex systems, so I love to see such work in action,' one visitor shared. 

Dr Victoria Hudson, a British Academy Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in the Department of War Studies and one of the key organisers of the exhibition, remarked: 'It was wonderful to see how the different images spoke to different people and sparked in-depth discussions on the topics raised.'

A key highlight of the exhibition was the opportunity to meet academics who had collaborated on the artworks and learn about the project’s broader impact. Dr Rosie Walters, the researcher behind 'Firefly', a study on girls' activism, shared that the illustration not only reflected her ideas but also influenced her thinking, leading to a chapter in her forthcoming book based on the image.

Another impactful piece was 'Plandemic' by Dr Joseph Powell and Victor Ndula, which explored the Rastafarian perspective on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy within the context of the colonial past. The work brought attention to underrepresented narratives, fostering a deeper understanding of complex social issues.

The 'Art for a Better World' exhibition was held at The Foundry Social Justice and Human Rights Centre, Vauxhall. It attracted artists, researchers, civil society activists and representatives from local politics, creating a diverse and engaged audience.