Entanglement
Migrant Journeys in Biodiversity and Conservation
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Biodiversity thrives on diversity.
Migrants have long played a visible and vital role in UK conservation and biodiversity efforts, yet their journeys remain largely untold.
Entanglement is an upcoming art series by Yayen that centres on the lived experiences of migrants working in the UK’s biodiversity and conservation sector. Developed in collaboration with the Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI), the project will be created during an Arts, Science and Conservation Programme (ASCP) artist residency at CCI, University of Cambridge. The series will take the form of a visual polyptych, reflecting migrant journeys and the ways their work, leadership, and lived experience shape global biodiversity conservation.
More details about the Arts, Science and Conservation Programme residency and journey, and the evolution of his process coming soon. Temporarily, download here the transcript from Yayen’s presentation during the launch.
Entanglement Exhibit successfully launches at the David Attenborough Building, New Museums Site, Cambridge.
Fifty portraits of colleagues at CCI who have journeyed here from 37 countries: Aotearoa New Zealand, Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Nepal, Peru, the Philippines, Portugal, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.
Biodiversity and conservation thrive on diversity.
The idea for the Entanglement series was conceived in 2025. It has now culminated in 50 portraits of conservation colleagues from within the Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI) community. Some subjects arrived in the UK decades ago. Some came recently. Some have just left the country.
Migration is argued over more than it is listened to. This body of work invites us to listen, reflect, and celebrate international colleagues who have moved and brought with them not only expertise, but also stories, culture, humour, sacrifices, and particular ways of seeing. To know a colleague’s journey is a small act of empathy, and empathy is where solidarity, understanding, and cohesiveness begin, inside and beyond the David Attenborough Building.
All of the artworks were inspired from the lived experiences of the subjects. Behind the faces are biodiversity from their own countries: plants or animals that inspire them, or topics discussed in meetings or chats the artist shared with participants.
In his process, Yayen used simple materials and restrictive techniques to create the artworks. He also made almost all of the portraits live in the CCI common room, choosing it over the residency studio or other isolated areas. The common room made it more of a conversation, drawing in the subjects who contribute to the shared spirit of community and encouraging a wider dialogue about migration.
“I have also chosen to deliberately draw with pen and ink on canvas. Ink is what we use when we sign paperwork, when we apply for our visas and in other documents that we, migrants, use to prove that we exist. I wanted to reflect that in this work and to show that something beautiful can be made with such humble materials”.
Celebrating colleagues from Cambridge Conservation Initiative’s (CCI) institutional partners:
Photo Credits: Alren Aure (Event Launch), Florencia Chiapero (Yayen working in the Common Room)
