Artist Sadia Sikander reflects on her Refugee Festival Scotland exhibition: Unwritten Milestones – The Silent Talent Trapped in Limbo,
As part of Refugee Festival Scotland, artist Sadia Sikander shares the inspiration behind her powerful exhibition. Sadia’s Unwritten Milestones captures the hidden struggles of asylum seekers in limbo, using portraiture to reflect on resilience, mental health, and the urgent need for change.
Photos by Karen Gordon
Two local artists, Sadia Sikander and Syeda Sadaf Zaida, reflect on their respective exhibitions for Refugee Festival Scotland, reflecting on what it means to see their work displayed publicly, offering insight into their creative processes.
Sadia’s exhibition, Unwritten Milestones: The Silent Talent Trapped in Limbo, highlights the current backlog of asylum cases in the UK. As a member of Greater Govanhill’s photography group, it’s no surprise that Sadia chose portraiture to bring attention to this critical issue. Her work explores the mental health impact on those stuck in the asylum system – unable to work and left in uncertainty – and how they are supporting their wellbeing during this time. Unwritten Milestones is now on display at Refuweegee until 26 June.
Sadia what inspired your to create Unwritten Milestones: The Silent Talent Trapped in Limbo?
Sadia: My personal journey while seeking sanctuary was very traumatic. I don’t want anyone else to go through what I experienced in the asylum system. The system is deliberately designed to punish people who deserve respect, dignity, and safety. This exhibition aims to highlight key issues such as the Right To Work for asylum seekers, mental health struggles, especially among young people, and the backlog in asylum applications. These are all hidden milestones, waiting to shine in their way.
What personal reflections or ideas were you exploring through your photography?
Sadia: I wanted to reflect on the resilience, talent and potential of asylum seekers that often go unnoticed. The story of 22-year-old Zamanini, who’s been in the asylum system for more than three years, really broke my heart. He won many awards as a young footballer, playing for an amateur team in Scotland. He was named Best Player for the 2024 and 2025 seasons, and was the highest goal scorer. I know he could achieve even more at a higher level – he has such a bright future – but for the past three years, he has been heavily restricted by the system.
There are so many people like Zamanini. I really hope this exhibition brings about positive change in the system and inspires more people to respond with compassion and empathy.
How did you feel creating this work and how do you feel seeing it displayed at the Gallery of Modern Art?
Sadia: Creating this work was emotional and challenging. I carried the weight of my own experiences while listening to the stories of others. Seeing it displayed now gives me a mix of emotions, sadness because of the harsh realities it reflects but also hope that it can spark understanding and change.
