Projects – ISMAIL DIVERSE

Upcoming Project

Mansfield Museum proposes a collaborative community arts project, led by myself, combining photography and visual arts to explore the emotional significance and environmental impact of trees in Mansfield’s urban and rural landscapes. The project title is yet to be confirmed. Local community members will engage in both mediums to reflect on the personal and environmental importance of trees, fostering a deeper connection between participants and their natural surroundings. Through this artistic exploration, the project aims to highlight the vital role trees play in both personal and environmental well-being.

Migration Cells

I am leading a new project that involves facilitating ten photography and art workshops with local migrants and asylum seekers. Together, we will create a large scale art piece that will have a permanent place in the Migration Cell at the Justice Museum.

This initiative, in collaboration with the Justice Museum and Refugee Roots, focuses on highlighting human-positive stories through photography. It aims to challenge the prevailing narratives that often portray refugees and migrants as anonymous and unskilled outsiders. False statements can break our community into separate portions, which is detrimental to the soul of our society.Through this project, we will showcase their unique experiences and talents, fostering a deeper understanding and connection within the community.

At The Cross Roads

This ongoing project is funded by Arts Council England. At The Crossroads project shines a light on the experiences of immigrants in Nottingham, empowering individuals within these communities by giving them a public voice. Through this initiative, I aimed to explore both personal and shared experiences of mental health during times of political, social, and environmental upheaval in their home countries. T Selected photographs from “At The Crossroads” were featured in “Hidden Worlds,” part of the @grain_projects East Meets West Masterclass Program 2023 group exhibition @formatfestival at @derbyquad and at Centrala gallery in Birmingham.

Speaks Her Name

Speak Her Name Exhibition The “Speak Her Name” touring exhibition is currently showcased at Nottingham Central Library. This collaborative project, developed with sculptor Rachael Carter, visual artist Anish Parmer, Legacy Maker, and myself as lead artist and facilitator, highlights the global connections of cotton, women’s empowerment, and the Swadeshi movement in India. It recognises the invaluable contributions of unnamed women in the cotton industry while celebrating 100 historic women through over 300 intricately embroidered hoops. This project is proudly funded by the Heritage Lottery.

Build Create Play

Ronald Street Playground Project I was commissioned to create public artwork for the Ronald Street Playground, an initiative by Primary gallery in partnership with Nottingham City Council, Toy Library, and Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges. I worked closely with project coordinator Rebecca Binary and fellow contemporary artist Charlotte Tupper. This project engaged local inhabitants of the Radford area, allowing their voices to shape the creative vision through workshops. The playground not only enhanced the community but also served as a testament to the power of art in fostering connection.

Our Barriers Our Eyes

I was involved in this project as I live in the Ashfield district and understand how deprived the area is in terms of opportunities and cultural diversity. I had the privilege of leading and facilitating a group of young people in Mansfield on a journey of photography and storytelling. The group, who had no previous experience with photography, explored various techniques and learned to use the medium to tell stories about their communities. This journey culminated in a pop-up exhibition during the YOUnique Festival 2024. The participants, all of whom had individual learning disabilities, invited viewers to see their world through their eyes. This initiative is part of the Arts Council’s Levelling Up program and was funded and organised by Unanima Theatre, Captivate, and New Art Exchange.

Bees (and other species)

In this project, I collaborated with the Ink Collective, a group of photographers each exploring different facets of humanity’s connections to and reliance on bees and other species. My role involved contributing to the collective’s examination of how these creatures reconnect us with nature and each other, while also addressing their critical role in our health and well-being. Our work highlights bees as allegorical tools that reflect human society and indicate the health of meadow habitats. Through this group photographic project, we delved into issues such as habitat loss, the importance of pollinators in food production—since one in three mouthfuls of food relies on them—and the vital efforts of conservationists. By capturing these themes, the Ink Collective aims to raise awareness about the value of nature in urban settings and inspire a deeper appreciation for our interconnectedness with the natural world. My contributions focused on weaving together these narratives to foster a greater understanding of our dependence on these essential species.

Our Home

In this project, I collaborated with Refugee Roots, the Justice Museum, and the Refugee Forum to co-produce an exhibition featuring participants from asylum-seeking and refugee backgrounds worldwide. The theme for Refugee Week 2024 was “Our Home.” I led workshops teaching documentary photography, guiding participants to explore the theme of “Our home” for the exhibition. Through their creativity, they crafted sculptures using recycled materials and created remarkable paintings and self-portraits. This collaborative effort not only highlighted their stories but also empowered individuals to express their experiences and aspirations through art. The exhibition aimed to foster understanding and appreciation for the resilience of refugees, transforming their journeys into powerful visual narratives that resonate with the theme of hope.

Travelling World Is Not Arriving Yet

One of my first projects involved using a camera as a tool to capture stories, and I was fortunate to join the Reframed Photography Network and Black Country Visual Arts. As COVID-19 loomed, we recognized how disproportionately our communities were affected and under-represented, both in interviews and in who was asking the questions. In April 2020, I was diagnosed with COVID-19. Driven by a desire to understand how others from minority backgrounds were coping, I interviewed individuals about their experiences. Using their own words alongside their photographs, I aimed to express their feelings authentically. This project, showcased online at the Format 21 exhibition, was a homage not only to Nottingham but also to the memory of my homeland, highlighting the resilience and stories of those often overlooked.Also I was shortlisted for the 163 International Photography Exhibition organised by the Royal Photographic Society England.

The Body Politic

I depicts a herd of cattle in the middle of nowhere. There is a sense that they are just about to move on and are being led to a freedom that has been promised to them. The tension in the painting comes from this sense of waiting and the chaotic dynamics of a crowd.