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Dr Nasia Sarwar-Skuse

@sarwarskuse

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Lawyer. Writer. Editor: Gathering (2024) Ph.D: The Hybrid Aesthetic as Decolonial Practice @swanseauni. Winner: Queen Mary Wasafiri Writing Prize 2023

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It feels kind of strange to allow myself to feel happy about winning the Queen Mary Writing Prize when there is so much horror in the world at the moment. But I am allowing myself this because my writing is my activism. And so, thank you @wasafirimag for creating a joyous evening where I could forget the troubles of the world, and for bringing together so many wonderful people. It’s an absolute honour to have my writing read and judged by @aanch_m whose work informs so much of my academic research. #queenmarywritingprize2023 #writersofinstagram by @sarwarskuse

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3 years ago

For the past 12 months, I’ve been immersed in the Perspective(s) project, a collaboration with @_waysofworking_ , St Fagans Museum, and @auroratrinitycollectivecardiff This project is truly made up of many hands—an exploration of how museums hold power and how we can begin to deconstruct that power.

The work culminated in four installations, including Absent Presence, a short film reflecting on these themes.

I’m thrilled to see this work featured in @guardian, but it’s more than just recognition. It’s a reminder that we need to have urgent conversations about dismantling power structures within institutions born out of colonial imaginations. The link to the article which also features the other six artists’ projects is in my bio and also below.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/21/how-clive-of-indias-1767-sofa-ended-up-in-a-british-south-asian-living-room?CMP=share_btn_url

#welshart #artactivism #decolonisethemuseum #decolonise by @sarwarskuse

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2 years ago

Sharing my new headshots by the super talented Mary @twocatsintheyardphotography, and taking the opportunity to reintroduce myself.

I’m an editor, prize-winning writer, artist, lawyer, and creative facilitator with a PhD in Creative and Critical Writing. My work explores colonisation and decolonisation (India/Pakistan), migration, memory, belonging and gender.

Ten years ago, after my mum passed, I went through the things she kept: hand-stitched baby clothes carried from Pakistan, letters, photographs, locks of hair. I spent a long time going through her curated archive. This was not dissimilar to my childhood, when I’d sit on the floor surrounded by old photos, rearranging faces and marrying them up with the stories I’d been told, trying to make sense of what was there and what wasn’t.

That instinct still shapes my work. I write across memoir, essay, poetry, non-fiction and fiction, following threads of mother and daughter, diaspora, home, and the archive, without forcing them into one neat story.

My practice is rooted in hybridity, bridging theory and lived experience.

I often begin with archives, but it is fragmented memory that drives me. I’m drawn to small details, ordinary stories, and the histories they hold. Writing is how I sit with what I don’t yet understand.

I come from a legal background, with care and attention guiding everything I do. A decolonial approach underpins my work as a way of questioning, noticing, and staying with complexity. by @sarwarskuse

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7 months ago

The River as Archive

Re memory l remembering l remembrance l

We came together to witness the River’s gifts and to give thanks.

The ceremony opened with a procession led by @auroratrinitycollectivecardiff carrying textile banners they had created for the project.

@cathwords captivated the audience with her story about the River, bringing together its mythology and magic.

Young people from @inthepurplezone shared their beautiful poems with us as did Jacquline from Llandaff Rowing Club.

We honoured the river through multi-faith blessings:
@hindu_priestess_storyteller offered a blessing to and from the River.

Mashwa and David offered a prayer and a talk on the importance of water in Islam and also spoke about the duty to be khalifiah’s of nature.

@the_liminalwitch led us into song as an act of devotion and in reverence for the River.

@anges_scribbles read the Rights of the River from the people of Pontypridd, and collectively we read additional rights from the communities around Cardiff.

Finally, the scroll was ceremoniously handed to the Kingfisher via @bottegaproject who sailed away on the Taff.

With much gratitude to @alexg_wildlife and the youth forum @wildlifetrustsww who helped organise and shape the event.

Also a big thank you to Llandaff Rowing Club for their generosity with time and space.

Thank you to everyone who performed, came along, helped out and the many friends who always show up for me (you know who you are!).

There is more to come on this project, but for now I am taking stock of how a ripple can become a tide for change.

Photo credit: @parislove.photos by @sarwarskuse

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12 days ago

We are delighted to share the presence of our Young People and Artists at The River as Archive event by @sarwarskuse this weekend.

We are kickstarting the event this Saturday with our Creative Writing Masterclass with Dominika Rau and Sabri Ali at the serene space provided by Breathe Creative and Growing Green, where young people of Purple Zone will be practicing their writing and poetry performance skills and preparing special pieces for this Sunday's event, some of us have already written our pieces during the Summer Camp Masterclass with Dr Nasia Sarwar-Skuse. This is an event to look forward to, and we are very excited to be there with all the beautiful, talented artists and members of the community! 💚🤗

We are almost fully booked, by you can still join us, just DM us or drop us an email to register for this event purplezone.wales@gmail.com 🤗 by @sarwarskuse

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18 days ago

When I was offered a residency by @llencymru_litwales with @wwfcymru I didn’t quite know where to start or what my relationship was with the River Taff. I soon came across the brilliant @alexg_wildlife and the more we talked, the clearer my path became.

Throughout the residency I was greatly influenced by @robgmacfarlane’s book, Is a River Alive? It has been the question that has guided me and one that I posed to everyone I spoke with. I was also inspired by the work of @lawyersfornature and @paul.powlesland with their advocacy and direct action.

Along the way I met so many communities committed to the same goal: to create a healthy and more vibrant River Taff.

And so, in this first iteration of my residence, I’m so pleased to invite you to a celebration of the River Taff where translocal communities and people from different walks of life will gather to talk, tell stories, read poetry and offer blessings for our river.

Link for tickets is in my bio.

@bottegaproject @the_liminalwitch @cathwords @auroratrinitycollectivecardiff @inthepurplezone @hindu_priestess_storyteller by @sarwarskuse

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20 days ago

Purple Zone was honoured to welcome a special guest to our Summer Camp — Dr Nasia Sarwar-Scuse, writer, artist and creative facilitator, who delivered a truly inspiring creative writing workshop ahead of her special event, River As Archives, on 4th October.

Our young people were deeply focused on their writing, dreaming of the beautiful landscapes we all saw on our postcards and finding the words flowing straight from their hearts. 💜💜💜🥰

Thank you so much, Nasia, for taking the time to visit us and share your work with our young people. 🤗

A huge thank you to our partner, @WGCulture Fusion Funding, for supporting Purple Zone with funding that enabled us to purchase bus tickets for our participants to attend the activities, and to Cardiff Bus for another generous discount. We couldn't have made it without you! 💜

And, of course, a huge thank you to @tnlcommunityfund for making this possible, thanks to #NationalLottery players! 🎟️💜

🎥 ✂️Filmed and edited by @inthepurplezone
📍🌿At a wonderful space of @breathecreative and @growing.green.cardiff by @sarwarskuse

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a month ago

Throughly enjoyed the Decolonising Narratives Symposium organised by @manmetmaps at Manchester Metropolitan University. Met brilliant writers and academics and I got to share work from my thesis. Then came home to find a parcel from my friend, Hamja @shyradicals - see photo 3. by @sarwarskuse

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a month ago

Maybe it’s the rain, but I’m here for reading lists, new notebooks, planners, pens… by @sarwarskuse

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2 months ago

Cardiff Council are considering granting permission for Cardiff East park and ride to be replaced by a privately owned data centre. Both locals and residents from other parts of Cardiff came together last week to stage a protest. Data centres have been reported to:

Increase energy bills for surrounding communities

increase water bills and exploit local water sources

Run diesel generators 24/7

keeping residents awake and
reducing air quality

Permanently damage or destroy
local wildlife systems.

2 September 2026 is the last date to add your objections to the proposed data centre.

Here’s the link to the plan
https://www.cardiffidoxcloud.wales/publicaccess/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T8YL3PECJ8T00&activeTab=summary by @sarwarskuse

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2 months ago

In 1947 India gained independence from colonial rule, but it was also split into two nations. Pakistan came into existence officially on 14 August. Its creation was not a straightforward trajectory and women played a huge role in both the fight for independence and the creation of a Muslim state.

Would you read a longer piece on how Indian women participated in the fight against colonial rule? by @sarwarskuse

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2 months ago

I’m so thrilled that me, @_owengriffiths and @carys.mol have received an Honorary Mention in the Future Icons of Culture Knowledge Exchange Awards for the Transformative Impact Through Cultural Knowledge Exchange Award for our Perspective(s) project.

ThIs recognition is especially significant because the award recognises collaborations that create meaningful social, educational and cultural impact through arts, culture and humanities research.

The project was developed between myself as lead artist and @_waysofworking_ in partnership with St Fagans National Museum of History / @museumwales and with the support of @celfcymruarts

Perspective(s) asked how museums can become places where more complex conversations about colonial histories, identity, belonging and representation can take place. It’s wonderful to see that collaborative work recognised in this way.

Many thanks to Nusrat Ahmed, head curator @mcrmuseum for nominating us. by @sarwarskuse

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2 months ago