Strength Away From Home
KLABU and Foam Photography Museum Amsterdam proudly present the work of photographer Coco Olakunle in the exhibition 'Strength Away From Home' at Mercatorplein’s public space between 6 June and 8 July 2024.
The project has been co-created with Foam to mark World Refugee Week (17-23 June), and reflects on the courage and resilience shown by the many millions worldwide who have been torn from their familiar environment and forced to build a new life away from home. The images aim to break through existing stereotypes and negative voices about refugees, by allowing their human power and potential to shine through.
Marwa from Afghanistan, in Lesvos, 2022
Akbar from Afghanistan in his beloved boxing gym, Lesvos, 2024
In this collaborative project, Coco Olakunle, KLABU and Foam use visual storytelling to look at the world from different perspectives.
Photographer Coco has been closely involved with KLABU since we began back in 2019. Her work captures our incredible KLABU community in refugee camps such as Kalobeyei and Lesvos in an extremely authentic and human way, allowing them to be in control of how they are represented. As a self-taught image maker, Olakunle explores social issues and investigates their role in photography. We at KLABU very much appreciate this world-class art collaboration with both Coco and now Foam.
Boys' Football Trainer John, from Haiti, in Lesvos, 2024
Emile from Burundi, after intensive basketball training in Kalobeyei, 2019
"We are people with goals, who want to achieve something in life." Lilian from Ethiopia, in Kalobeyei, 2019
Rustem from Afghanistan still in his boxing handwraps after a session, Lesvos, 2024
KLABU friend and photographer Coco Olakunle at work
What a Unity Day we had at Mercatorplein on 22 June! World Refugee Week fell during the period of the exhibition where Coco Olakunle, Foam and KLABU shed light on the powerful human spirit of refugee members of our clubhouses around the world.
Saturday 22 June saw newcomers and local Amsterdammers unite on Mercatorplein for a festive afternoon. Kids jumped, bounced and balanced their way around the course set up by ApenkooiGym amongst Coco’s images. Coco herself held photography workshops on her important philosophy of having human conversations and connection ‘before you press the shutter button’, and it was a delight to see strangers meet at the public library and then get busy photographing each other with Polaroid cameras.
ApenkooiGym set up amongst Coco's images
Soraya Verhoeve came down from AFC Ajax Women
One or two people got a ball past her!
Muna Dahouk from the Refugee Olympic Team also joined
And taught many their first judo throws!
Photographer Coco Olakunle hosted Polaroid workshops
Where strangers got to know and then captured each other
An amazing day of unity on the Mercatorplein was had by all ages
Professional sports women Soraya Verhoeve, from AFC Ajax Women, and Muna Dahouk, judoka from the Refugee Olympic Team, came down to the square for the afternoon to get people moving.
Soraya put everyone through their paces with some silky football skills, and Muna took to the mat with young and old, allowing herself to be thrown and for many to get their first taste of the transformative power of sport. Other sports to try out were Dubball, created by students from Hogeschool van Amsterdam, and boxing through Boogieland Boxing Club and Foundation - balls and gloves were flying all over the square!
DJ Nellz spun the tunes all day, Hummus and Habibis made sure the neighbourhood was extremely well fed, and Innocent and Seawater kept everyone topped up for drinks on a day blessed with sunshine and good vibes. A big thank you if you joined us to unite during World Refugee Week.
