Seema Khalique's 'Londoni Memoirs' Documents British-Bangladeshi Generation at Four Corners
Londoni Memoirs, a project by Seema Khalique and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, is currently exhibited at Four Corners in East London until 10 October. This work captures the experiences of Bangladeshis who immigrated to Britain between the 1950s and 1970s through oral histories, photographs, and collaborative portraits. Khalique's father, Abdul, immigrated in 1956, while her mother, Gulnehar, arrived in 1973. She engaged with 12 individuals, many of whom were linked to her father, to share narratives of migration and labor. The exhibition includes poignant stories, joyful memories, collaborative portraits, videos of participants, and transcripts presented as a newspaper. Four Corners was selected for its closeness to the British-Bangladeshi community, and Khalique also hosted a workshop focused on history and representation.
Key facts
- Londoni Memoirs by Seema Khalique is on show at Four Corners in East London until 10 October.
- The project is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and remains ongoing.
- Khalique's father Abdul arrived in the UK from Bangladesh in 1956; her mother Gulnehar arrived in 1973, after the Bangladesh Liberation War.
- From 2021, Khalique worked with 12 individuals, many linked to her father, gathering oral histories, archives, and collaborative portraits.
- The project documents Bangladeshis who settled in Britain in the 1950s-70s, including communities in Birmingham, the East End, and St Albans.
- Collected material includes a passport photo of Gulnehar due to expire in 1977 and a £5 Pakistan Relief Fund receipt dated 1965, worth about £125 today.
- The exhibition features 10-minute videos of participants speaking, with transcripts published in a newspaper format.
- Ten participants attended a special afternoon at the gallery; few could attend the opening night due to age and poor health.
Entities
Artists
- Seema Khalique
- Abdul Khalique
- Gulnehar Khalique
- Abdus Suhan
- Rajia Yaqub
- Makhlisur Rahman
- Jilu Miah
- The Beatles
Institutions
- Four Corners
- National Lottery Heritage Fund
- Pakistan Relief Fund
- 1854 Photography
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Bangladesh
- Bethnal Green
- Croydon
- Eltham
- Birmingham
- East End
- St Albans
- Whitechapel
- Brick Lane
- Banglatown