In Live in Art, recently shown at the CCA as part of Refugee Festival Scotland, artist and curator Syeda Sadaf Zaida brought together diverse voices to explore identity, memory, and resilience. Co-created with 12 artists, Syeda’s reflects on her dual journey as both artist and curator for an exhibition rooted in storytelling, emotion, and care.

Photos by Karen Gordon

Live in Art, recently exhibited at the CCA, was co-created by Syeda and 12 Glasgow-based artists from Afghanistan, Colombia, Iran, Pakistan, Ukraine, and Vietnam. Curated by Syeda following a two-month residency at Common Ground, the exhibition offers a powerful expression of identity, migration, and community resilience through painting, photography, text-based art, and interactive projects.

While Live in Art is no longer on display, Syeda’s work can be seen in a new collaborative exhibition at the Hunterian Museum, Museum of Things. On show from 21 June to 19 October, the exhibition is led by Syrian artist Mousa AlNana and explores themes of history, heritage, and identity, reshaping how we see artefacts and tell our stories.

What inspired you to create Live in Art?

Syeda: Live in Art is very close to my heart because it brings together two important parts of my creative life: my art practice and my first experience curating. I’ve always been inspired by the power of storytelling through art to express things that are hard to put into words.

My piece in the exhibition reflects that deeply personal need to communicate, connect, and sometimes confront what lies beneath the surface. I approached the whole project with intention, making sure each artwork had a voice and the overall experience was meaningful, not just visually but emotionally. As both an artist and a curator, this exhibition is more than just a showcase; it's the result of persistence, collaboration and care. Behind the calmness of the final display is a story of hard work, resilience, and determination.

How did you feel creating and curating this work and seeing it at CCA?

Syeda: Through my artwork in this exhibition, I was exploring themes of memory, emotional resilience and identity but not just in a broad sense. It was also very personal: looking inward and asking myself where I’ve come from creatively, and where I want to go.

As a curator, I was also exploring a new kind of expression, building something bigger than just one piece of art. I realised how much behind-the-scenes work it takes to bring something like this to life. I learned that curating is an art form in itself. What connects my painting and the exhibition as a whole is this shared sense of movement through space, through difficulty, toward something better. I hope visitors walk away feeling not only inspired by the visuals but also connected to the deeper story of effort, strength, and creativity that lies beneath.

What personal reflections or ideas were you exploring through your photography?

Syeda: Creating my piece was both challenging and rewarding. It came from a place of deep thought and emotion and I wanted every part of it to reflect who I am as an artist. At the same time, I was curating the entire show, organising, planning, coordinating with artists, and overseeing the presentation. It was intense. Now, seeing it all come together, my own artwork on the wall alongside others I admire is incredibly moving. The space at CCA feels alive with energy, and knowing that I helped shape that, both through my hands and my heart, is something I’m really proud of.

On conversation with the other artists

Vietnamese artist, Linh Nguyen, painted the various places she’s lived in her life and enjoyed making art with this group because “it felt liberating in a sense. It’s like a meditation because I can lose myself when I’m doing it.” Oksana Borysova agreed. “It was an unforgettable time filled with creativity in a warm, friendly place where we could talk. It brings support, help, and enjoyment”. “It was a remarkable experience filled with moments of peace and joy, which are so necessary in times of confusion and mental instability,” added Hanna Shamardina.

Inna Sheremeta (Shtyfurak), one of the artists from Ukraine, has found herself in the role of art therapist facilitator. “My whole life, I’ve painted,” she remembered. “Maybe since I was 2-years old. I painted with my father. If you paint, your worries come from your mind straight to the canvas. I like to see how people smile after a lesson”.

“I never wanted to relocate from my own country but war happened. I thought it would be for a couple of months, but now it’s been three years” said first-time painter Yuliya Shkurina. Her painting depicting an Earth surrounded by homes, connected by telephone wires and dotted with cats reminds her that “we all live under the same sky and on the same Earth. Wherever you are, you belong to this world. Leaving home is never easy, but no matter where we are, no matter where we go, we take our humanity with us”.

Both Tetiana Alanderieva and Diana Pimiento Castro painted images depicting traditionally styled women from their homes in Ukraine and Colombia, respectively. “This woman is young and has so much hope, ”says Alanderieva. She painted poppy flowers and a traditional embroidered pattern similar to that from her home region. “I only ever painted in school before, but I love it. When I came here, I had depression but art class helped me rest. It’s just amazing.” Pimiento Castro says this group has helped her to experience different cultures, occupy her mind and help her relax. Her image of a Cumbiambera – a woman who is passionate about dance - reminds her that “we carry colour and life in our Colombian blood. It’s with us no matter where we are”.

“My home country was beautiful”, says Mehdi Mohammadi. “When I was a child, I was excited to learn painting, but in [Afghanistan], painting wasn’t considered worthwhile, so I wasn’t allowed to continue”. Mohammadi depicted an underwater scene of vibrant coral and a school of fish, but a shark lurks in the background. “I thought of myself as one of the small fish. Because of war, life was dangerous and I had to leave. I have come to a different country to live in peace”. Mohammadi notes, “when you paint, it helps you show your emotions and what’s going on with your life”.

Shkurina notes, “creativity works magic. The fullness and mental harmony that you feel when you are in the process of drawing is something special. I’m happy to be a part of our community. This is my art family now”.