iWITNESS at Bristol Temple Meads station

Tom Stoddard's exhibition of photographs of asylum seekers at Bristol Temple Meads station, John Easterby

A series of stunning black and white photographs depicting refugees, displaced people and the effects of war and famine around the globe was shown at Bristol Temple Meads station in June 2008.

The exhibition, by internationally acclaimed photojournalist Tom Stoddart was supported with an award of £10,000 from Grants for the arts by Arts Council England, South West and was shown in collaboration with the Pierian centre as part of the celebrations for Refugee Week. This UK wide festival celebrates the contributions made by refugees to our cultural and economic life. It also seeks to promote a greater understanding of the situations that force people to become refugees and seek sanctuary elsewhere.

Reaching out with a serious message

Tom Stoddart who began work as a photographer on a local newspaper in his native North East in the 1970’s, is now regarded as one of the world’s leading photojournalists documenting the serious world issues of our time. The iWITNESS exhibition comprised 17 images, each four metres high, depicting subjects of displacement and transition in Sarajevo, Burma and Kosovo amongst others. The work was displayed along the curving length of platform five where it could be clearly seen by the 20,000 passengers who use the station each day.

This is very much in keeping with Tom Stoddart’s ethos as he explains ‘I far prefer my work to be shown in a public space where it has the chance to be seen. I want people to respond to it – people who wouldn’t choose to go to a gallery and see it.’

He continues ‘my hope is that the images will make people think and make them more tolerant. I aim to give people a jolt - to remind them that not everyone is privileged to live as we do.’

To see the exhibition online and for further information.