Artist explores What is Seen and What is Not in new show
Osman Yousefzada links colonialism, capitalism and migration in V&A exhibition
By RITHIKA SIDDHARTHA Aug 16, 2022
MIGRATION, capitalism and climate change are among the themes explored by British Asian artist Osman Yousefzada in his new work at the V&A in south London.
A tripartite of site-specific installations, the works draw upon Yousefzada’s Pakistani heritage and commemorate the 75th anniversary of the country this weekend.
What is Seen and What is Not, as the show is titled, was commissioned by the British Council in partnership with the V&A. “It’s about having a platform to tell your own stories,” Yousefzada told Eastern Eye at the launch of his work last month. “I had these three spaces and I was going to try and connect them; I wanted people to interact with them.”
Over a span of about nine months, Yousefzada created his work – which includes three tapestries depicting abstracted figures in motion that hang at the entrance of the south London museum, an installation of wrapped objects as an ode to female migrants and finally, charpoys, wooden stools and a boat, set in the John Madejski garden of the V&A.
Wooden stools (Photo: Victoria and Albert Museum, London)
Yousefzada explained what he was trying to convey. “We all have our own stories. This starts in the grand entrance – the figurines on the tapestries are what I stumbled across in the Falnama: The Book of Omens, which looks at the world of gins, and ghouls. Those became tarot cards on the streets of Mughal India, Turkey and Iran.
“When you migrate, you flip over a fortune card, and these are the talismans for me – they give you power and tell you a story to fight another day.”
Osman Yousefzada (Photo: Tim P Whitby/Getty Images)
A second installation in the sculpture galleries – showing textile-wrapped objects cast in glass and clay and placed on shelves – hopes to give voice to female migrants, “or spaces of agency and patriarchy, of places that don’t often get told, or stories that don’t often get told”, the artist said. “The folds and the knots in clay and glass become a marker of identities and ownership of consumerism, of belonging and identity… always arriving and never unpacking. It’s like a shrine to female migration, female perseverance and resilience; the stories we don’t necessarily get told – of the preservation of domesticity of homemaking.
“It’s also about shared ownership. In a place where you probably have less space, how do you get big agency? How do you mark out your space within that space?”
Finally, in the garden, “with Queen Victoria overlooking” visitors, Yousefzada looks at the co-relationship of “textiles, the start of capitalism, colonialism and community”.
Three charpoys, with rope made from recycled textiles and incorporating wood from doors, several small wooden stools (modas), as well as a boat painted in black are a nod to the migrant experience and to climate change, respectively.
Charpoys (Photo: Victoria and Albert Museum, London)
Yousefzada said, “The boat is a signifier, a vehicle that takes you to the other side – one also of hope and fulfilment.”
The artist, who grew up in Birmingham to immigrant parents from Pakistan, attended SOAS and Central Saint Martins before doing a masters at Cambridge.
He told Eastern Eye how his work with textiles links the shared history of south Asia with Britain. “It’s kind of gone back full circle because they (the British Raj) banned a lot of the textile industries back then. It’s an idea of cycles, of movement, capitalism, or the colonial relationship. And then again, space for sharing and community.”
As both Pakistan and India mark the milestone freedom anniversaries this month (on August 14 and 15, respectively), Yousefzada reflected on what the word migrant means.
“It’s a dirty word; it’s always been a dirty word, even in Pakistan, the idea of a mohajir (Muslim migrants).
“The problem with migration is that people are just always left to their own devices. That’s why the idea of the shrines is quite interesting, or mazars, langars, ashrams [where people can gather and have a meal free of charge, prepared by volunteers], because people can actually be part of a community. So they’re kind of these remedies to that sort of migration.”
The sculpture gallery (Photo: Tim P Whitby/Getty Images)
Exploring the migrant experience is part of Yousefzada’s research as he pursues a PhD at the Royal College of Art. His work has been shown at prominent galleries in the UK and abroad, including in south Asia, the US and Europe. Yet, his pride was evident as his work was unveiled at the V&A on July 29. “I used to come here as a student and I saw myself in the south Asia galleries. It meant something to me,” he told Eastern Eye.
Asked if UK museums should return colonial treasures, Yousefzada said it was a “layered conversation” and added, “but I don’t think you can really deny the conversation of extraction of anthropology”.
Museums could collaborate and perhaps share ownership and support culture and its preservation in countries where the objects were taken from, the artist said. But he wasl also concerned that “you don’t really know how it’s actually going to be looked after as well”.
As both south Asian neighbours mark seven and a half decades since British colonial rule ended, Yousefzada said, “It’s good to have such pockets of spotlights; it’s monumental.”
And what does the anniversary mean to him? “I come from illiterate parents; I’m trying to pinch myself as I’m here trying to have these conversations,” he said.
Osman Yousefzada’s installations are open to the public at the V&A until September 25
Newly appointed home secretary Shabana Mahmood arrives at Number 10 at Downing Street as Keir Starmer holds a cabinet reshuffle on September 5, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)
The King approved a series of new appointments on Friday. David Lammy becomes lord chancellor and secretary of state for justice, and will also serve as deputy prime minister. Yvette Cooper has been named secretary of state for foreign, commonwealth and development affairs.
Mahmood moves from justice secretary to the Home Office. Lisa Nandy will stay on as culture secretary despite months of speculation about her future.
Steve Reed is the new secretary of state for housing, communities and local government. Pat McFadden has been appointed secretary of state for work and pensions.
Peter Kyle is the new secretary of state for business and trade and president of the Board of Trade. Liz Kendall takes over as secretary of state for science, innovation and technology. Emma Reynolds becomes secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs. Douglas Alexander has been named secretary of state for Scotland.
Jonathan Reynolds has been appointed parliamentary secretary to the Treasury (chief whip) and will sit in cabinet. Sir Alan Campbell becomes lord president of the council and leader of the House of Commons, and will also attend cabinet.
Darren Jones has been appointed chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and will continue as chief secretary to the prime minister.
Angela Rayner, Lucy Powell and Ian Murray have left the government.
Rayner resigned earlier after admitting she had underpaid stamp duty on a seaside flat. In a letter to Starmer, ethics chief Laurie Magnus said Rayner had failed to "heed the caution" of legal advice and considered the ministerial code to have been breached.
"I accept that I did not meet the highest standards," Rayner wrote in her resignation letter, adding she would also step down as housing minister and deputy leader of the Labour Party. "I deeply regret my decision to not seek additional specialist tax advice. I take full responsibility for this error."
In his reply, Starmer said he was "very sad" to see her leave government but added: "You will remain a major figure in our party."
Rayner confirmed she had underpaid stamp duty following reports that she had saved £40,000 ($53,000) by removing her name from the deeds of another property.
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The protests outside the Bell Hotel in Epping triggered a series of demonstrations across the country during heightened tensions over immigration. (Photo: Getty Images)
AN ETHIOPIAN asylum seeker, whose arrest in July led to protests outside a hotel near London where he and other migrants were housed, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a teenage girl and another woman.
The protests outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, about 20 miles (30 km) from London, triggered a series of demonstrations across the country during heightened tensions over immigration.
Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu was convicted at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman. He was also found guilty of attempting to sexually assault the girl, inciting her to engage in sexual activity, and harassment.
"This was an incident which became a cause of deep concern for the local community," said prosecutor Rebecca Mundy.
Immigration has become the main political issue in Britain, overtaking concerns about the economy, with record numbers of asylum claims and migrant arrivals by small boats across the Channel.
Prosecutors said that on July 7 the girl had offered Kebatu pizza because he looked hungry. He then tried to kiss her, touched her thigh, said he wanted a baby with her and her friend, and invited them back to the hotel.
The next day, when the girl was in her school uniform, he again attempted to kiss her.
District Judge Christopher Williams said the girl’s evidence was consistent and he did not believe she or other witnesses fabricated their accounts.
Kebatu, who had moved to the Bell Hotel about a week before the incident, denied the charges, telling the court he was "not a wild animal".
The asylum seeker said he was a teacher in Ethiopia and claimed the woman had given him her phone number and repeatedly invited him to her home.
His arrest sparked protests outside the hotel, some of which turned violent. The local council obtained a temporary injunction to prevent asylum seekers from being housed there, but it was overturned last week after a government appeal.
Opposition politicians accused prime minister Keir Starmer of prioritising migrants’ rights over those of local residents.
Government data shows that just over 32,000 migrants were housed in hotels across the UK as of the end of June. The government has said it will end the practice before the next election, scheduled for 2029.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Rayner, 45, announced she would step down as deputy prime minister, housing minister and deputy leader of the Labour Party. (Photo: Getty Image)
Rayner steps down after admitting underpaying property tax
Resigns as deputy prime minister, housing minister and Labour deputy leader
Becomes eighth minister to leave Starmer’s government, and the most senior so far
Her departure comes as Labour trails Reform UK in opinion polls
DEPUTY prime minister Angela Rayner resigned on Friday after admitting she had underpaid property tax on a new home. Her resignation is a fresh setback for prime minister Keir Starmer, who had initially stood by her.
Rayner, 45, announced she would step down as deputy prime minister, housing minister and deputy leader of the Labour Party. She becomes the eighth minister to leave Starmer’s team, and the most senior departure so far.
"I deeply regret my decision to not seek additional specialist tax advice... I take full responsibility for this error," Rayner wrote in her resignation letter to Starmer.
Starmer said he was very sad her time in government had ended in this way but that she had made the right decision.
Labour under pressure in polls
The resignation comes as Labour trails Reform UK in opinion polls. Starmer has already faced criticism over his party’s image, with accusations of hypocrisy linked to accepting costly gifts such as clothing and concert tickets from donors.
Rayner’s exit is seen as a major blow, as she had played a key role in keeping Labour’s left and centrist factions together and was considered more broadly popular than Starmer himself.
From potential successor to resignation
Rayner had been mentioned as a possible successor to Starmer. On Wednesday, she referred herself to the independent adviser on ministerial standards after acknowledging a mistake in her tax payment.
In an interview, Rayner appeared close to tears as she explained that she had set up a trust for one of her sons, who has lifelong disabilities caused by an injury. She sold her share of her family home in northern England to the trust, using the money to buy an apartment in Hove. She believed she did not need to pay the higher tax rate for a second home.
Rayner’s departure adds to a series of losses for Starmer’s government. Eight ministers have now resigned, five over wrongdoing. This is the highest number of ministerial resignations outside cabinet reshuffles for any prime minister at the start of their tenure since at least 1979.
Even Boris Johnson, who later faced widespread criticism over lockdown-breaking parties, saw fewer resignations at the same stage.
Challenges ahead for Starmer
The resignation leaves Starmer weakened as he faces the end of the year, when his government must prepare a budget that is expected to include further tax rises. At the same time, Nigel Farage’s Reform is mounting a growing challenge.
Starmer had hoped to signal a new phase of leadership with a reshuffle on Monday after returning from his summer break. But that effort was overtaken by the allegations against Rayner and by Farage’s claim that the prime minister was stifling free speech.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Migrants swim to board a smugglers' boat in order to attempt crossing the English channel off the beach of Audresselles, northern France. (Photo: Getty Images)
Refugee family reunion scheme suspended as part of migration reforms
Nearly 21,000 visas issued in the past year, mainly to women and children
New rules to include contribution requirements and longer waiting periods
Government expects first migrant returns to France later this month
THE GOVERNMENT has announced it is suspending a scheme that allowed families of refugees in the UK to apply to join their relatives, as part of efforts to cut irregular migration.
Home secretary Yvette Cooper told parliament on Monday that new applications under the refugee family reunion route would be “temporarily” paused while the system is reformed.
“We do need to address the immediate pressures on local authorities and the risks from criminal gangs using family reunion as a pull factor to encourage more people onto dangerous boats,” she said.
Nearly 21,000 visas issued in a year
Home Office figures released earlier this month showed almost 21,000 refugee family reunion visas were granted in the year to June 2025. The majority were issued to women and children.
Cooper said the suspension is ahead of wider reforms due later this year. These will examine “contribution requirements” for family members and “longer periods before newly granted refugees can apply”.
“Until the new framework is introduced, refugees will be covered by the same family migration rules and conditions as everyone else,” she said.
Immigration concerns rising
An Ipsos survey published last month found immigration is currently the top concern for Britons, ahead of the economy and the National Health Service.
Over 111,000 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number since records began in 2001, according to Home Office data.
Since Keir Starmer became prime minister in July 2024, more than 50,000 migrants have crossed the Channel from northern France. Similar crossings also took place under the previous Conservative government.
The arrivals have fuelled discontent that has been tapped into by Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, which has overtaken Labour in national opinion polls.
Deal with France
Cooper said the government expects to return the first migrants to France “later this month” under a new agreement.
Under the “one-in, one-out” deal, the UK can send back to France some migrants who crossed the Channel, while accepting the same number of migrants from France who can apply for a visa through an online system. Priority will be given to vulnerable nationalities and those with ties in Britain.
“We expect the first returns to begin later this month,” Cooper said.
“Applications have also been opened for the reciprocal legal route, with the first cases under consideration subject to strict security checks,” she added.
Reform’s challenge to Labour
Reform UK has led Labour in opinion polls for several months, though the next general election is not due until 2029.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Angela Rayner arrives for a cabinet meeting at Downing Street on September 2, 2025. (Photo credit: Reuters)
DEPUTY prime minister Angela Rayner is awaiting the outcome of an investigation into her underpayment of stamp duty on a property in East Sussex, with the findings expected soon.
Prime minister Keir Starmer said he anticipated the report, led by ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus, would be delivered “pretty quickly.” He added: “Then, of course, I will act on whatever the report is that's put in front of me.”
Rayner admitted she did not pay the correct tax on an £800,000 flat in Hove. She paid £30,000 in stamp duty after listing it as her main residence. However, as she co-owned another property, she should have paid the higher “second home” rate of £70,000, according to BBC.
The Times reported that Rayner’s lawyers said they had not given her any tax advice and were being made “scapegoats,” contradicting her earlier claim that she had acted on advice.
BBC reported that her allies said she had consulted a conveyancer and two trust law experts.
Starmer’s spokesperson condemned vandalism at Rayner’s Hove property, where “tax evader” had been spray-painted.
“Whatever scrutiny our parliamentarians may face, it is appalling that their private homes should be targeted in this way,” the spokesperson said.