In 2020 a group of refugees and asylum seekers worked together with Firstsite staff and Refugee Action Colchester to curate ‘My name is not Refugee’, an exhibition of artworks that includes pieces from the Arts Council Collection.

‘My name is not Refugee’ is the fourth exhibition by Firstsite as part of the Arts Council Collection National Partners Programme, which will continue into 2022.

Alongside the exhibition, the group of curators worked with poet Laila Sumpton to write poetry in response to the artworks that were chosen.

The following two poems were written a member of the group in response to ‘The Bell’ (2007) by David Shrigley.

By Diego Robirosa

I see: a new dawn, reflections
I hear: a deep call, conflict, pushing and pulling, insistence
I smell: incense, ashes, a new beginning, renewal
I taste: new mixed flavours, hope, miracles,
I feel: a call to attention, tightness in the torso, intimidation

why is this sound so ‘simple’ and yet so powerful?
when did all this sound begin
what if we don’t ring any more bells? just let things be
memory being a ‘monaguillo’ (altar boy) when i was a child. feeling awakening of spirituality

By Diego Robirosa

Am I the only one feeling this tightness in my torso
this deep call
reflecting conflict, intimidation, pushing and pulling
this sound, so simple and yet so powerful
awakening a childlike spirituality
miracle of persistent hopes
when did all this sound begin
what if the bells stop ringing
from the silence and the ashes
a call to a new dawn

bImage: The Bell (2007) David Shrigley. Arts Council Collection, Southbank Centre, London. © the artist.