I Am London 2024: Immigrant Artists Take Center Stage

London's Cultural Scene Gets a Fresh Boost

Halfway through the I Am London 2024 campaign, we're taking a moment to appreciate the amazing work of immigrant artists who now call London home. This year's spotlight is on ten creative folks from different fields - musicians, painters, performers, you name it. Each brings unique cultural flavour to London's already colourful art world.

Take Firas Al Basri, an artist from Basra, Iraq. He's got a knack for rolling with the punches. "Oftentimes in life, you don't have a choice but to be yourself," Basri says with a shrug. "I do not know who I am without my art." Even after being uprooted and starting fresh in Canada, Basri keeps creating. His work? It's a fascinating mix of his Iraqi roots and modern art.

Then there's Diego Cortés, a London local who wears many hats - poet, musician, language buff. He's all about art as a lifeline. "Art can save you from the darkest moments of the migration journey," Cortés says. "When nostalgia hits hard, you have your art, your creation to shelter from the emotions. Channeling those thoughts and emotions can create something beautiful." His words give us a glimpse into the role of art in the immigrant experience, fostering understanding.

These artists' stories are as different as their art. Willy Aristide, born in Cameroon, now teaches and makes music here. He sees his work as a way to bring people together. "I wanted to raise awareness among those living in London, Ontario, or even in Canada, that everyone should be proud of their identity and that all these identities together create the beauty of our diversity,"

Angela Gjurichanin, an opera singer from Macedonia, feels a special connection when she performs. "When I perform, it feels like I am sharing a gift with the people who are listening to me—it's not about the attention or the applause, it's about the connection, about the giving."

Selma Popovic, who paints silks and is from Bosnia, agrees. "Everyone should be free to do their art any way they want to express themselves," she says. "Through my art, I have been able to express myself and connect with the incredible world and people around me."

The I Am London 2024 campaign is chugging along, now in its second month. It'll shine a light on these and other immigrant artists until December. The goal? To bust myths about immigration and show off the cool stuff these artists bring to London's culture.

Want to follow along? Check out the campaign on social media and the I Am London website. You can learn more about each artist's journey and see their work. In December, a big party will celebrate all the featured artists and what they've added to the city.

As London keeps growing and changing, stuff like I Am London reminds us how art can connect cultures, spark creativity, and unite people. These immigrant artists' stories - full of grit, adapting to new places, and expressing themselves - show us what people can do when they put their minds to it and how art can really shake things up.