Student artist Maria Won writes about ‘Murmuration’ by HipHat Collective – part of the annual Oxford Human Rights Festival.
Murmuration is a series of installations curated by HipHat Collective, a group of Oxford Brookes Master of Fine Arts students (Alamelu Annhamalai, Etain O’Carroll, Kulsuma Monica Khatoon, Laura Campbell, Lilli Tranborg and Maria Won).
To highlight the Human Right to education, and to stand in solidarity with the challenges of the unprecedented numbers of displaced people around the world, hundreds of origami butterflies, made with discarded books and with the help of the local community, flew throughout the Oxfordshire County Library next to the Westgate, Oxford.
This installation discussed access to education through gender and disability; material deprivation; and considered the impact Covid-19 has had on the education system within the UK and internationally.
The symbolism of the butterflies and books is emblematic of change, transformation and freedom – themes which link visually to the festival’s theme of movement. The environmental effect of the materials used to create this installation has been considered, allowing for the majority of the components to be recyclable and sustainably sourced.
On 12 March 2022 members of the local community took part in a workshop creating origami butterflies, contributing to the exhibition. The workshop was led by Dr Lizzie Burns in support of wellbeing and with the support of a Community Fund from the National Lottery.
The beautiful origami butterfly installation was exhibited during 10-29 March, as part of the annual Oxford Human Rights Festival.
Find the HipHat collective on instagram at @hiphatcollective
You can find out more about some of the artists involved at:
- Etain O’Carroll: etaino.co.uk
- Alamelu Annamalai:alameluannhamalai.com/, insta @alameul24
- Maria Won: insta@mariawonofakindart/
- Laura Campbell: insta @Laura.Campbell.Art
- Monica Khatoon:kulsumakhatoon.com, insta @kmonakartist
