Hamed Moradi: Good Chance Commissioned Artist on ‘Passage’

Good Chance Commissioned Artist Hamed Moradi tells us about Passage, an installation that reminds us of the ways we communicate outside of spoken language.

About Hamed

Hamed Moradi is a professor of architecture and visual artist who came to the UK as a refugee in 2015.

Hamed presents Passage, a series of mounted black and white illustrations combining portraiture and landscapes to explore the experiences of people who have migrated to the UK, accompanied by an evocative musical composition by Ashvan.

Can you tell us a bit about Passage, the installation you’ve created for the Museum of the Home, and why you wanted to make it?

As the title implies, Passage is a corridor that leads to a change of place, reflecting the subject of migration. The installation aims to reveal that while language is an essential form of communication, it is not the only form of communication. With Passage, I hope to encourage migrants who might avoid social activity, because of their lack of language knowledge in their new country, to not be worried.

What was it like working with mentorship from George Butler?

There were a lot of benefits to having George as a mentor. Not only did I gain skills that changed my perspective on drawing styles through this project, but I understood through George’s work how art can help different segments of society via the field of humanitarian advocacy.

As the Museum's work is all about different ideas of home - when you hear the word home, what is the first image that comes to mind?

“Home” for me does not refer to a place. It is, instead, a feeling of safety and being at peace with your loved ones by your side. That is home to me. In the drawings I will exhibit in Passage, I tried to reflect my interviewee’s feelings of their new or last home.

What do you hope your audience will take away from Passage?

It would be a great achievement if I could establish bridges between different parts of our communities. However, the most important achievement for Passage would be a simple reminder that humans can communicate without knowing the same language. 

If you could tell your past self anything about creating your home in the UK, what would it be?

I would say “don’t worry Hamed, there is a lot of opportunity for a new guy like you. Many people worked hard to build a kind society that will accept you as a new member. There are no differences between any kind of human. It is not only the law, it is a part of their culture to be the most welcoming people you have ever met.”

Hamed’s installation will be exhibited in ‘Home, Migration, Belonging’ at the Museum of the Home from 12 April to 2 May 2022, alongside other commissioned artists Basel Zaraa and Andrea Ling. All three installations are free and open to everyone!