An exhibition about transforming tragedy through creativity
Raising Sakinah | Finding Peace is a project under the umbrella of Darkness into Light. It honours the Shuhada, those taken from us on March 15, 2019, and provides creative tools to help people affected by the attacks through their grief and healing, taking into account their individual spiritual and cultural needs. In the aftermath of the mosque shootings, survivors and supporters joined Janneth Gil and collaborators to transform tragedy through creative community.
Art and photography immortalise the experiences of those affected, amplifying the voices of the survivors, encouraging both personal healing and social cohesion among diverse participants, and inviting viewers to reconsider the unconscious biases they may hold towards those we often see as ‘other’.
Workshops and inks crafted by Janneth from the tributes that poured in make these metaphors and lessons visible, reminding us of the loss of innocent lives and the hope that unity, healing and wellbeing can carry us through our darkest days, bringing to life conversations and images carved from the memories of our friends and neighbours as they pursue Raising Sakinah | Finding Peace.
The exhibition is on from Saturday 25 March to Sunday 21 May at at Te Pito Huarewa / Southbase Gallery, located on Tuakiri | Identity, Level 2, Tūranga.
Find out more about the Darkness into Light project on Janneth Gil's website.
All images courtesy Janneth Gil, Darkness into Light Project. Photographs: Arabella Spoors.
Listen: Janneth Gil talks about the origin of the project after 15 March and the collaboration between professionals and the community since this tragedy. Janneth provides insight into how the idea for the exhibition came about, the process of making these prints and invites everyone to come and experience these stories as they share universal messages of hope and love.
Download: Raising Sakinah | Finding Peace exhibition brochure [913KB PDF]
Raising Sakinah | Finding Peace exhibition programme
Raising Sakinah | Finding Peace Documentary screening and Panel discussion - Sunday 26 March 2pm to 4pm, Tūranga
Come and enjoy a free screening of the Raising Sakinah | Finding Peace documentary film followed by a panel discussion with members of the Muslim community.
- Location: Tautoru / TSB Space, Hapori |Community, Level 1
- Free, no bookings required
- Find out more
Raising Sakinah | Finding Peace badge making workshop - Saturday 8 April 2.30pm to 4pm, Tūranga
Write your own messages of peace and transform them into a badge of your own using paper from the 1000s of origami cranes made as tributes to the March 15th Mosque attacks.
- Ages 6 plus
- Free, no bookings required
- Location: Auahatanga | Creativity, Level 4, Tūranga
- Find out more
Raising Sakinah | Finding Peace mindful print making workshop - Thursday 13 April 1.30pm to 3.30pm, Tūranga (FULLY BOOKED)
Come explore basic print making techniques, the themes of healing and well-being and take home your own original artwork to showcase!
- Ages: 10-15 years
- Cost: Free
- Bookings required: book online
- Location: Ngā Purapura / Activity Room, Hapori | Community, Level 1
- Find out more
Raising Sakinah | Finding Peace mindful print making workshop - Monday 17 April 1.30pm to 3.30pm, Tūranga (FULLY BOOKED)
Come explore basic print making techniques, the themes of healing and well-being and take home your own original artwork to showcase!
- Ages: 10-15 years
- Cost: Free
- Bookings required: Book online
- Location: Ngā Purapura / Activity Room, Hapori | Community, Level 1
- Find out more
Raising Sakinah | Finding Peace badge making workshop - Saturday 20 May 2.30pm to 4pm, Tūranga
Write your own messages of peace and transform them into a badge of your own using paper from the 1000s of origami cranes made as tributes to the March 15th Mosque attacks.
- Ages 6 plus
- Free, no bookings required
- Location: Auahatanga | Creativity, Level 4, Tūranga
- Find out more
The Making of Raising Sakinah | Finding Peace - Sunday 21 May 1pm to 4pm, Tūranga
Join the Darkness into Light project team to mark the exhibition’s closing weekend. Enjoy a book launch and screening of the Raising Sakinah | Finding Peace documentary film. This will be followed by a panel discussion with the makers of Finding Peace and members of the Muslim community. Light refreshments will be provided.
- Free
- Bookings required, book online
- Location: Tautoru | TSB Space, Hapori | Level 1, Tūranga
Images of the exhibition and events
Image courtesy of Darkness into Light Project, Janneth Gil. Photo credit: Janneth Gil
Find out more
- Images from the exhibition and events
- Light in the Darkness: Transforming tragedy through creativity Article by Andrew Paul Wood
- Raising Sakinah | Finding Peace events programme
- Women affected by Chch mosque attacks remember experiences with art Monday 24 April 2023, 1News
- Women who lost loved ones in mosque attacks create art exhibition to help journey through grief 14 March 2023, Stuff
- The art project that is helping those who lost loved ones in the Christchurch Mosque attacks, 14 March 2023, Seven Sharp (TVNZ)
- Raising Sakinah, Finding Peace exhibition 15 March 2023, The Panel, RNZ
- Christchurch mosque terror attacks: Victims transform tragedy through creativity, 14 March 2023, NZ Herald
- Tūranga exhibitions
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