Responses by participants of the Misplaced Women? workshop in Torry, Aberdeen, March 10, 2016

Responses by the participants of the Misplaced Women? workshop in Torry, Aberdeen:

On the 10^th 0f March 2016, I co-organised and participated in the Misplaced Woman? Workshop with Tanja Ostojic. The Misplaced Women? workshop was organised as a part of the Aberdeen Festival of Politics 2016. During the workshop, participants had a chance to meet the artist Tanja Ostojic in a welcoming and casual settings. People could meet each other, share their immigration stories and expectations from the workshop over a cup of tea/ coffee. Then, the group went out to the streets of Torry in Aberdeen to enact the Misplaced Women? delegated performance. The performance involves unpacking of a bag or a suitcase in a public sphere and recalls the everyday experience of immigrants and refugees, but also of people who move from one city to another. It was not my first encounter with the Misplaced Women? performance and to me, as an immigrant, it always is a powerful experience. This time, the workshop Misplaced Women? made me reflect on mothers. On all the women who must juggle between motherhood and personal development or work. I am among these women too. Luckily, events like this with such inspirational and open minded people like Tanja Ostojic, Amy Bryzgel, and Renée Slater lit up my hope that women will have an opportunity to develop their potential as women. We do not need to act as men in order to have equal rights. We need understanding and equal rights to develop our full potential as women. Thank you for understanding and allowing me to bring my son with me and be the co-organiser and participant of this powerful and inspirational event!  ……………………Marta Nitecka Barche

 

 

 

Misplaced Women?

Vulnerable and malleable, Increasingly strong,
Out with hierarchy
I catch my own self.

Resting only on the skin of others Causing warmth to emanate,
I admire the view
Streaming in from all angles.

Discarded, unfolded rush
Takes place in the uncertainty.
Here, there is no such pain
Breathing in the entirety of all I have left.

Turn upper torso in search of the sun, Inside the wealth of abandonment, Increasingly hinders the
Onset of the time.

And in concern of chaos,
My weathered, kneaded soul Takes sanctuary of being, Free from all I own.

………..Angela Margaret Main

 

I really enjoyed the workshop, I felt vulnerable in the moment but I feel like it gave me confidence in my life. My favourite part of the workshop was watching Tanja perform at the bus stop.

………..Sarah Jackson

 

I liked the discussion that came from the workshop that Tanja did. Although I knew the issues surrounding the refugee crisis, I felt that listening to other participants talk was extremely emotional and powerful. You always hear these stories but when it’s right in front of you it isn’t a story any more.

………….Rowan Young

 

For more images and texts about this workshop please visit as well:

https://misplacedwomen.wordpress.com/2016/06/13/misplaced-women-in-torry-aberdeen-festival-of-politics-march-10-2016/

https://misplacedwomen.wordpress.com/2015/06/01/may-festival-aberdeen/

 

This workshop has been made possible thanks to the generous support of the University of Aberdeen and the Aberdeen Trade Union Council.

 

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