London's refugees find their voice

The Museum of London's latest show is more oral history than exhibition. Objects in display cases and artwork offer only part of the narrative.

The lives of London's refugees are conveyed mostly through their voices, often coming from listening posts which play back testimonies, at times in the refugees' original languages, which reflect experiences best through mundane details.

One Eritrean man feels he has 'the best of both worlds' because he is able to do what his father never would - change his children's nappies. Other voices are relayed through quotes next to items.

The military cap belonging to the former deputy commander of the Ethiopian Air Force is accompanied by text that reads: 'It is difficult to explain at the job centre. I told them I used to be a salesman.'

The final exhibition in the Refugee Communities History Project, Belonging showcases some of the 150 life stories collected by fieldworkers from 15 communities over the past two years, stating 'we can only move forward if we take the time to listen'.

Some exhibits seem naively optimistic about the plight of refugees in London, others provide insight without defeatism. Two of the highlights are artworks, their voices expressed in captions. Kagan Guner prints colour on to news reports of the 2003 anti-war march, saying: 'Nobody was a foreigner in that rally.'

Meanwhile, Don't Touch is a map of the world made from anti-burglar paint. Artist Surafiel Yacob claims that it 'represents the difficulties refugees face once they're out of their countries - the world becomes untouchable'.

Until Feb 25, Museum of London, 150 London Wall EC2, daily 10am to 5.50pm (Sun from noon), free. Tel: 0870 444 3851. www.museumoflondon.org.uk Tube: St Paul's/Barbican

Belonging: Voices Of London's Refugees
Museum Of London
London Wall, EC2Y 5HN