Deconstructing Oxford

'Deconstructing Oxford' was the product of collaboration between Erick Moreno Superlano, DPhil Candidate in Migration Studies, Natasha Treunen, Programme Coordinator for the Oxford Sanctuary Community, and the artist and researcher Francisco Llinás Casas.

The workshop was designed as a space for interaction and dialogue within the Oxford Sanctuary Community (OSC), in which students, Fellows, and city residents who identify as refugees and/ or have been forcibly displaced could discuss their shared experiences. It also aimed to improve cohesion among sanctuary students and city residents, helping to bridge the "Town and Gown" divide within the OSC.

The workshop produced a collection of art objects that capture the difficult but necessary conversations around inclusion and exclusion in Oxford. Participants explored several key questions.

1. As Oxford students and city residents, how do we navigate the history and infrastructure of spaces that have historically excluded or underrepresented certain social groups?
2. Can we draw on our unique life experiences (of both disadvantage and advantage) to reimagine the future of institutional and urban spaces and reshape the narratives surrounding belonging?
3. Can we use art as a tool to address these concerns and challenge exclusionist views of Oxford?

The workshop began with an Uncomfortable Oxford tour of the city. This walk examines controversial elements of Oxford's history (both city and University) about power dynamics, social discrimination, and colonial legacies.

During the main workshop, participants used photography, printing, creative writing, and sculpting techniques to reflect on their place in the University and city as members of the sanctuary community (see photos below). They considered Oxford's celebrated reputation as a place of excellence and personal growth alongside the historical reality of exclusion, particularly examining how the mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion in both city and university shape their daily experiences. Participants also reflected on how people from historically underrepresented backgrounds enrich both the city and the academic life of the University.

The organisers would like to thank St John's College for welcoming the Oxford Sanctuary Community members and for providing the Small Grant for the Arts that made this workshop possible. This was an excellent opportunity for OSC members from the University and the broader city to meet, connect, and think about their shared experiences. Last year, our university received "Sanctuary University" status. We believe St John's support for our workshop strengthens the culture of welcome and generosity we want to see throughout our University community.