A powerful new exhibition created by refugees offers a harrowing insight into the UK’s ‘inhumane’ asylum system, bringing personal stories and striking visuals to the North East.

Hosted at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead, the showcase shines a light on the challenges faced by those seeking refuge and celebrates the region’s efforts to provide a warm welcome.

The exhibition, We All Came Here From Somewhere, runs from Saturday, November 23 to February 9. Central to the display is Asylum: A Long and Painful Process, a project led by award-winning photographer and refugee Sadia Sikandar.

Sadia collaborated with asylum seekers involved in the North Tyneside-based Walking With group, supported by campaigners at Asylum Matters.

Her photographs and those of Walking With members illustrate the pain, resilience, and humanity behind these experiences.

(Image: ASYLUM MATTERS)

Sadia, who fled persecution in Pakistan, has endured a gruelling six-year journey through the UK asylum system. During this time, she was made homeless and, like all asylum seekers, was banned from working.

Sadia said: “In my home country I had a job, a car and a home, but I lacked freedom and peace of mind. My life was in danger, which is something people need to understand. Asylum seekers are often viewed as though we come from impoverished or jobless backgrounds, but in reality, I had a very good status in Pakistan. I came here because my life was at risk.

“For those of us who seek asylum, it often means going from having everything to having nothing. This experience strips away our dignity, honour and self-respect. I submitted a new asylum application, which was also initially rejected, but was eventually granted on appeal.

“The entire process took six long years.”

Sadia is now based in Glasgow and teaching at the Gallery of Modern Art. She worked with Walking With members on this project, using photography to express their shared struggles.

The photographs, taken at Seaton Sluice Beach in Northumberland and Walking With’s Wallsend headquarters, capture themes of survival and despair.

She said: “The beach represents the endless waiting period they endure in hotels, temporary accommodation and camps. The smoke represents the destruction that forces asylum seekers to flee their homes, the aftermath of war, persecution, or disaster.

“Smoke also symbolises survival and resilience; where there is smoke, there is often fire – a core symbol of human survival. Together, the beach and smoke create a powerful contrast between hope and despair, freedom and entrapment.”

Award-winning photographer and refugee Sadia SikandarAward-winning photographer and refugee Sadia Sikandar (Image: ASYLUM MATTERS)

One striking image incorporates a calendar, a reminder of the endless waiting endured by asylum seekers as they count the days for a Home Office decision.

Clare Campbell, operations manager at Walking With, said: “The idea for this work was borne of the frustration, helplessness and despair felt by so many of our asylum seekers. They feel forced to leave their homes, jobs and sometimes families to escape torture, persecution and war.

“They arrive here hoping for a safer, better life. In the event, many then find themselves crushed by our asylum process. They become trapped in a world of poverty with no dignity and no chance to use their many skills as they wait – often for many years – for a Home Office decision on their asylum claim.

“All too often their mental health gives way before that decision is made. Stress, fear and uncertainty are part and parcel of our system of asylum. The experiences of so many seeking sanctuary here can leave us in no doubt – our asylum system is inhumane and must be changed.”

The exhibition also highlights the role of North East communities in offering support to those seeking sanctuary. The Baltic, recognised as a Gallery of Sanctuary since 2022, works alongside organisations like Walking With to embed a culture of welcome and celebrate the contributions of refugees to the region.

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The North East has a long tradition of standing in solidarity with those in need, from the efforts of local councils to grassroots groups supporting asylum seekers.

We All Came Here From Somewhere runs until February 9 and is part of a wider movement to amplify refugee voices and challenge misconceptions. By pairing art with advocacy, the exhibition offers visitors a powerful perspective on the realities of seeking asylum, and the strength of those navigating this often-brutal system.

For North East audiences, this exhibition is not just an opportunity to engage with striking photography but a chance to reflect on how the region can continue to provide sanctuary and support for those seeking refuge.