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See of the Unseeable

Sea of the Unseeable in collaboration with KRAN

As part of our Futures of Care creative programme of work, People United have been working with young refugees and asylum seekers supported by Kent Refugee Action Network (KRAN) and artist Jamshid Maylanchi to create Sea of the Unseeable.
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It was a very special moment when we installed these beautiful artworks created by artist Jamshid Maylanchi and young refugees and asylum seekers supported by Kent Refugee Action Network (KRAN).

Throughout 2022 People United have been working with two Young Producers, Luwam and Mohammed, who have helped to create Sea of the Unseeable in collaboration with KRAN’s Youth Ambassadors and other young people supported by KRAN. Their dream was to make a beautiful piece of art in a public art space, driven by their own ideas and giving them voice. Together they have made that dream come true, with not one, but two striking pieces!

One was on public display at The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge in Canterbury for 6 months until 21st April 2023, and the other has found a permanent home on display at KRAN.

My hope is that this artwork helps people understand what refugees and asylum seekers go through in order to find safety. On the waves you can see our ideas of what care looks like for us, here and now, as we try to move forward as part of this place. Luwam, Young Producer, Sea of the Unseeable
A photo of
Sea of the Unseeable by Jamshid Maylanchi and young people from KRAN
A photo of
Sea of the Unseeable by Jamshid Maylanchi and young people from KRAN
A photo of two of the young producers involved in creating the artwork. They are leaning over the table and working on some of the paper shapes, which are arranged on large cutting mats. One of the young producers is looking up at the camera and smiling.
Sea of the Unseeable by Jamshid Maylanchi and young people from KRAN
A close up picture of people's arms working on the Sea of the Unseeable artwork together.
Sea of the Unseeable by Jamshid Maylanchi and young people from KRAN
Photo of 5 people grouped around a table that has black fabric covering most of it. The people are arranging colourful paper strands of seaweed, fish and printed text with phrases such as “more sadness” “touch the invisible” “joy of togetherness” across the piece of fabric to create a collage.
Sea of the Unseeable by Jamshid Maylanchi and young people from KRAN
A photo of four large panels comprising Sea of the Unseeable, a single artwork being hung onto wires in a large atrium. The artwork is in shades of blue, getting lighter towards the centre, with strands of seaweed in in various colours starting from the outer edges and flowing inwards. Shoals of fish are swimming amongst the seaweed. Phrases such as “empathy” “togetherness” “misunderstanding” are written on some of the seaweed strands and in curved strings across the artwork. Two people are sitting either side of the furthest panel attaching it to the wires.
Sea of the Unseeable by Jamshid Maylanchi and young people from KRAN
A photo of artist Jamshid Maylanchi standing in front of the heart shaped artwork and gesturing towards it whilst smiling at the camera.
Sea of the Unseeable by Jamshid Maylanchi and young people from KRAN

The young people worked first with two brilliant artists, Catherine Chinatree and Jamshid Maylanchi and then went on to commission two pieces from Jamshid. They were the decision makers, ensuring the work represented their journeys, their fears, their hopes and their thoughts about care.

This is the centrepiece of People United’s Futures of Care programme, and our thanks go to Arts Council England for the Lottery funded project grant that made it possible.

We also want to thank everyone at KRAN, who have been the most inspiring partners over this past year, and to the team at The Beaney for their constant support and for helping to make it all happen.

I want people to look at this artwork and understand more about our experiences. I want people to be able to see that we are all humans, we have the same blood regardless. Even though African water is brown and European water is blue, they still meet. Mohammed, Young Producer, Sea of the Unseeable

Commissioned by

People United and KRAN

Funded by

Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants