"Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” — Edgar Degas
Art is amongst the most powerful means of communication, helping to form human connection and understanding that transcends national borders and individual backgrounds. In the context of immigration detention — where policies often reduce lives to numbers, figures and costs — art restores humanity.
To reshape the narrative around immigration detention, IDC recently partnered with Amnesty International Malaysia, members of IDC’s Grassroots Group and two visionary artists to create compelling new artistic works that go beyond existing visual representations of this issue.
Too often, the imagery surrounding immigration detention relies on stereotypes, generalisations or the exploitation of suffering. This project sought to shift that paradigm, crafting a visual language that captures the resilience, dignity and strength of those impacted.
The artists involved, Yaroslava and Mohammad, have a variety of lived experience of conflict, refugee and migrant issues and immigration detention. By focusing on the human experience, rather than just the system, their works invite viewers to see the individuals behind the policies and statistics, fostering a collective understanding of the urgent need for change.
The completed visuals package will be distributed globally and is available to all individuals and organisations advocating for an end to immigration detention. By providing these resources, we aim to empower movements, provoke thought and foster new conversations.
We believe that art has the power to break down barriers, challenge perceptions and ignite change. By engaging with this collection, we invite you to see beyond the policies and statistics, to witness the individual lives behind the headlines and to stand in solidarity with those who continue to resist the injustice of immigration detention.
More about the project
This project was a joint initiative by International Detention Coalition (IDC) and Amnesty International Malaysia (AIM), alongside members of IDC’s Grassroots Group, which is an informal solidarity-driven space made up of community-based leaders and advocates with lived experience from across several regions of the world. IDC has facilitated exchanges among this group since 2021. This project was the latest outcome of these efforts, channeling artistic talent into activism.
About the artists
Yaroslava is a Ukrainian artist whose work explores the human dimensions of immigration detention and the resilience of culture in conflict. Having been forced to leave her own country, Yaroslava’s art is shaped by empathy for those navigating systems that, as she notes, are “not always friendly to migrants.” She explains, “I drew illustrations to evoke emotions in people, to make them pay attention to the problem of migrant detention,” capturing the purpose she believes art serves: “to evoke emotions, whatever they may be.”
Her illustrations highlight the injustice faced by those detained, especially children. “They most deserve to have a happy childhood, to play, learn, enjoy life. If not in childhood, then when?” she asks. Yaroslava invites her audience to engage with her work openly, seeing art as a force for social change. “I would like the audience to discuss my works…to feel emotions,” she emphasises, hoping her art can inspire dialogue that extends beyond the images.
Yaroslava’s work is an act of cultural preservation. As war threatens her homeland, she reflects on the destruction of Ukrainian cultural sites. “Currently, we are paying a high price for the preservation of Ukrainian culture, country, and life,” she says, underscoring the stakes of her practice. For Yaroslava, art is more than a form of expression — it is a way to bear witness, inspire dialogue, and evoke a lasting empathy that may someday lead to change. Through her powerful illustrations, she stands as a voice for those who cannot speak freely, and as a protector of cultural memory in the face of adversity.
Mohammad, a 27-year-old Afghan artist currently based in Malaysia, uses his art to convey the struggles and resilience of living as an immigrant. With over twelve years of experience in painting and five years as a professional illustrator, he channels his journey into powerful visuals, shaped in part by his own personal experience of detention.
A few years ago, Mohammad was detained due to a false charge — a traumatic experience he continues to fight in court. This period informs his artwork for this project, where he captures the complex emotions of confinement. “When they took me to prison, my body was in prison, but my soul was with my family” he shares, describing the deep inner divide that accompanies forced separation. One of his pieces portrays “a man tied with a rope and a lock, with golden keys scattered around him,” symbolising the restraints he still faces and the freedom just out of reach, a visual echo of his current legal battle and separation from his family, who have since relocated.
For Mohammad, art is both healing and transformative. “Imprisonment and arrest affect people in two ways…either it makes us weak and timid, or it makes us brave and fearless,” he explains. Choosing resilience, he views art as a path to grow and “learn lessons,” using it to capture the emotions of his journey while striving for a better future.
With each piece, Mohammad hopes viewers feel the impact of immigration detention, not just physically but in spirit. He sees this project as a step toward his dream of becoming a renowned painter, as he aims to depict life’s most profound struggles and serve the cause of justice and empathy.