Leeds Beckett student showcases exhibition on the stories of Syrian refugee women

The exhibition features recorded testimonies from Syrian women who have fled their homeland in search of safety and a new beginning in the UK.

Combining storytelling, audio recordings, and a fabric installation, the exhibition creates an immersive experience that gives voice to their journeys. These stories, reflecting resilience, struggle, and hope, are intricately woven into a fabric installation designed in collaboration with the women themselves. Through this multi-sensory approach, Hear My Voice delves into the themes of space, memory, and endurance, offering visitors an intimate and deeply personal perspective on the lives of Syrian women in Leeds.

Alaa's work seeks to challenge perceptions and foster empathy through spatial practice, highlighting the voices of women whose stories are often unheard. The exhibition provides a space for reflection, engagement, and dialogue about displacement, identity, and resilience.

Alaa Alkurdi, MA student in Expanded Spatial Practices at Leeds Beckett University, said: "Hear My Voice: Stories of Syrian Women is a project deeply connected to my personal experiences and background. My mother's journey as a refugee shaped my understanding of the profound challenges displaced individuals face, adapting to a new culture, overcoming language barriers, and striving for recognition of qualifications, and finding a sense of belonging. Witnessing these struggles firsthand has fuelled my commitment to amplifying the voices of Syrian women, sharing their resilience, and shedding light on their often-overlooked contributions to society.

"Through studying in the Expanded Spatial Practice MA at Leeds School of Architecture, I have been able to explore how spatial storytelling can foster empathy and deeper engagement with social issues. The course has provided me with the tools, mentorship, and creative space to develop this exhibition as an immersive experience, where personal narratives unfold through sound, video and a fabric installation.

"Hear My Voice is not just about storytelling, it is about creating a space for conversation, understanding, and connection. My hope is that this exhibition will encourage critical debate about displacement, identity, and the power of shared human experiences in shaping more inclusive communities."

Lara Rettondini, Course Director for Interior Architecture at Leeds Beckett University, said: "Alaa's work opens a unique perspective onto the life of women refugees in Leeds. In most courses, students' projects remain hypothetical. One of the distinctive aspects of our Expanded Spatial Practice MA programme is that theory and practice are inseparable. What is remarkable about Alaa's research is that by being realised it makes a difference in the real world."

The exhibition is open for general viewing from Monday 3 February until Thursday 6 February from 15:00-17:00 at Leeds School of Arts.

For further information and to book tickets, please visit the event page.