On Saturday (4 October), October Books in Southampton welcomed creativity and cultural reflection as Writing Our Legacy, with the support of Wool Wire Events, hosted a powerful workshop titled Migration, Memory and Identity – No Place Like Home.
Led by Susmita Bhattacharya and Liz Amos, the event invited participants to explore themes of belonging, heritage, and personal narrative through poetry and visual art.
Liz Amos began the session with an exercise where participants were invited to select a piece of art from the Soulscapes exhibition. This collection features works by artists from the African Diaspora, each piece rich with emotion, history, and layered meaning. The chosen artworks served as personal prompts, helping attendees tap into memories and emotions that would form the basis for their writing.
To deepen the writing process, the group listened to two poignant poems—Hurricane Hits England by Grace Nichols and Right Now I’m Standing by Jason AllenPaisant. These works were chosen not only for their thematic relevance but for the narrative “twist” they each contain, an unexpected shift in tone or perspective that adds depth and resonance. Participants were then encouraged to incorporate a similar twist into their own poems.
The second half of the workshop, led by Susmita Bhattacharya, led to further discussion on art and culture. Using Desi Casual Glamour by Githan Coopoo as a prompt, participants reflected on the contents of handbag, and transferring it to metaphorical view of what we carry with us, in our lives, This exercise opened up rich conversations about identity, migration, and the objects that hold meaning in our lives.
The writing revealed the diverse ways in which we carry our histories, and what is or has been valuable in our lives.
The event was very well attended, with a warm and welcoming atmosphere that encouraged openness and connection. At the end of the workshop, attendees were invited to share the poems crafted in the workshop, offering glimpses into their journeys and perspectives.
The next instalment in this series will take place at the John Hansard Gallery on the 22nd of November. Titled Words Like Music To Your Ears: No Place Like Home, it will be led by Pooja Angra and Susmita Bhattacharya. For more information and to book your spot, visit Wire Wool Events:
In today’s world, where stories of migration and identity are more relevant than ever, workshops like these play a vital role in fostering understanding and celebrating diversity. They offer a space for reflection, creativity, and connection, reminding us that while our journeys may differ, the desire to belong and be heard is universal.
A heartfelt congratulations to Writing Our Legacy for their dedication to amplifying underrepresented voices and creating spaces where culture, memory, and identity can flourish.
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