Engaging Pictures

Select a thumbnail to view a larger version of the photograph and read their story.

Photographs © Karen Gordon

Sir Geoff PalmerSirGeoffPalmerSir Geoff Palmer

Grain Scientist and Historian, 2013

At 14, Geoff travelled by himself as a migrant from Jamaica to London, to join his mother. He became the first Black professor in Scotland, was Knighted in 2014, and now campaigns for recognition of Scottish links to slavery.

Sergey JakovskySergeyJakovskySergey Jakovsky

Lighting Designer and Production Manager, 2013

Sergey’s family left Russia during economic decline and brought their Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre to Glasgow in the 1990s. He studied Technical and Production Arts at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He is now the artistic director of Sharmanka.

Ms MushakaMsMushakaMs Mushaka

Fieldwork Development Officer, 2013

Born in Uganda, Ms Mushaka came to the UK in 2001 as an asylum seeker. Despite a successful career in Africa, she was not allowed to work here for seven years. Volunteering helped her re-establish her career. She is a well-known voice for refugee and migrant communities in Scotland.

Robyn MarsackRobynMarsackRobyn Marsack

Director of the Scottish Poetry Library (2000–16), 2013

A New Zealander by birth, Robyn came to the UK as a student in 1973 and has lived in Glasgow since 1987. After leaving the Scottish Poetry Library, she was a Writing Advisor at the University of Glasgow. She remains an editor and writer.

Faisal BhattiFaisalBhattiFaisal Bhatti

Doctor, 2013

Faisal left Pakistan to study Public Health Medicine in Glasgow in 2007. After graduating, he worked for the NHS before deciding to train as a GP. He believed that Scotland’s policy of equal opportunities allowed him to contribute as an immigrant. He now lives in Australia.

Hing Fung TehHingFungTehHing Fung Teh

Tai Chi Instructor, 2013

Hing Fung Teh was born in Malaysia, of Chinese ancestry. She came to the UK in 1973, and met her future husband, Leong, in Glasgow. She runs a popular Tai Chi practice.

Marta ZurakowskaZurakowskaMarta ZurakowskaMarta

Historic Buildings Material Scientist, 2013

Marta and her husband moved to Scotland in 2006 from Poland. Her PhD at Paisley University focused on how sandstone buildings decay. She hoped her research would help to preserve buildings in Glasgow. She now works as a Research and Innovation Tax consultant.

Ivan PetrovIvanPetrovIvan Petrov

Home Support Worker, 2013

Ivan moved from Bulgaria to study psychology in Glasgow. After graduating, he found work caring for people with special needs, and was impressed by the resources available to support them.

Louise FalconerLouiseFalconerLouise Falconer

Principal Policy Officer, Glasgow City Council, 2013

Born in Australia to Scottish parents, Louise came to Scotland in 2005 to work with Oxfam on issues around gender and poverty. She returned to Australia in 2015 and now works for a national organisation that aims to eliminate violence against women.

About the Exhibition

In 2013, Migrant Voice brought together migrants and Scots to create images and words promoting a better dialogue around migration. Participants selected 10 people from different countries who had settled in Scotland. They represent various professions, from arts to science to health and social services, and arrived in Scotland for different reasons. They all contributed their skills and experience to their new country. Photographer Karen Gordon was commissioned to take portraits of these people to accompany their stories.

The collection was named Engaging Pictures and it was shown at the Scottish Parliament, community centres and arts and education institutions across Scotland. It is currently on display at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum as part of the Putting Ourselves in the Picture exhibition, for two years, open until October 2025. After the exhibition, the photographs will remain in the collection of the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

In 2024, a digital tour of the exhibition featuring audio, image, and text was developed in collaboration with Glasgow Museums. It is hosted on Smartify, an application about world art and museums.

Have you seen the exhibition at Kelvingrove? Let us know what you think here. 'Putting Ourselves in the Picture' exhibition at Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum (visitor feedback) (google.com)

The Engaging Pictures exhibition was funded by the Big Lottery, Awards for All Scotland fund, and the Putting Ourselves in the Picture is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Exhibition resources for English learners:

We have created exhibition activity resources for English learners at various levels. They are free to use. You can access them here. With any questions or comments about the resources or the exhibition, please email Marzanna at marzanna@migrantvoice.org.

Media Coverage & Visitor Comments

The National, September 2023 Contribution of Scotland's migrants in focus at photo exhibition | The National

Daily Record, October 2013 In pictures: Immigrants tell their stories of living in Scotland through photo exhibition - Daily Record

Visitor Comments

Voices of Migrants

The following audio tour was produced as part of the Putting Ourselves in the Picture display co-curated with Migrant Voice - a migrant led UK-wide organisation. Through campaigns, media skills training, art and cultural events, Migrant Voice works for and with migrants to have a voice on the issues that affect them and to create a positive change in society’s attitudes towards immigration.

Open audio tour on Smartify

Visitor Comments

“This all needs to be SEEN and HEARD much more.”
“It was informative and painted a beautiful picture of migration and showed the richness it can bring to one place.”
“The photography is mesmerising. The writing around the pictures really hit me emotionally as it was something I could relate to. hearing voices that connected with me made me feel heard and seen.”
“Things were clearly laid out and easy to understand. I could connect with the stories on a personal level.”
“I had the pleasure to attend your exhibition Putting Ourselves in the Picture and it truly made a great impression on me. I was very happy to see ordinary people who moved to Glasgow at some point of their lives and portrayed them as members of their local community.”
“I was in the Kelvingrove museum and gallery yesterday and I saw the exhibit, Putting Ourselves in the Picture, that was put together by Migrant Voice. The exhibit spoke to me and moved me to tears. I was born in the UK, but I grew up in the Czech Republic and also lived in Canada. Seeing the exhibit made me feel seen and less alone in my experience as someone who has left home.”
“Looking at the silent photos and typed words on the wall, I see powerful ripples spreading their ways into the minds of all who stand in front of them. I for one become emotional, reflecting on my life at my birth home then and at my chosen home now. I can say I am one of the lucky migrants who is welcomed, able to adopt and integrate and contribute to my community here in Glasgow. Thank you very very much Migrant Voice for lighting up my migrant's mind.”

Engaging Pictures

Select a thumbnail to view a larger version of the photograph and read their story.

Photographs © Karen Gordon

About the Exhibition

Sir Geoff PalmerSirGeoffPalmerSir Geoff Palmer

Grain Scientist and Historian, 2013

Sergey JakovskySergeyJakovskySergey Jakovsky

Lighting Designer and Production Manager, 2013

Ms MushakaMsMushakaMs Mushaka

Fieldwork Development Officer, 2013

Robyn MarsackRobynMarsackRobyn Marsack

Director of the Scottish Poetry Library (2000–16), 2013

Faisal BhattiFaisalBhattiFaisal Bhatti

Doctor, 2013

Hing Fung TehHingFungTehHing Fung Teh

Tai Chi Instructor, 2013

Hing Fung Teh was born in Malaysia, of Chinese ancestry. She came to the UK in 1973, and met her future husband, Leong, in Glasgow. She runs a popular Tai Chi practice.

Marta ZurakowskaZurakowskaMarta ZurakowskaMarta

Historic Buildings Material Scientist, 2013

Ivan PetrovIvanPetrovIvan Petrov

Home Support Worker, 2013

Ivan moved from Bulgaria to study psychology in Glasgow. After graduating, he found work caring for people with special needs, and was impressed by the resources available to support them.

Louise FalconerLouiseFalconerLouise Falconer

Principal Policy Officer, Glasgow City Council, 2013

About the Exhibition

In 2024, a digital tour of the exhibition featuring audio, image, and text was developed in collaboration with Glasgow Museums. It is hosted on Smartify, an application about world art and museums.

Have you seen the exhibition at Kelvingrove? Let us know what you think here. 'Putting Ourselves in the Picture' exhibition at Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum (visitor feedback) (google.com)

The Engaging Pictures exhibition was funded by the Big Lottery, Awards for All Scotland fund, and the Putting Ourselves in the Picture is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Exhibition resources for English learners:

Media Coverage & Visitor Comments

The National, September 2023 Contribution of Scotland's migrants in focus at photo exhibition | The National

Daily Record, October 2013 In pictures: Immigrants tell their stories of living in Scotland through photo exhibition - Daily Record

Visitor Comments

Voices of Migrants

Open audio tour on Smartify

Visitor Comments

“This all needs to be SEEN and HEARD much more.”
“It was informative and painted a beautiful picture of migration and showed the richness it can bring to one place.”
“The photography is mesmerising. The writing around the pictures really hit me emotionally as it was something I could relate to. hearing voices that connected with me made me feel heard and seen.”
“Things were clearly laid out and easy to understand. I could connect with the stories on a personal level.”
“I had the pleasure to attend your exhibition Putting Ourselves in the Picture and it truly made a great impression on me. I was very happy to see ordinary people who moved to Glasgow at some point of their lives and portrayed them as members of their local community.”
“I was in the Kelvingrove museum and gallery yesterday and I saw the exhibit, Putting Ourselves in the Picture, that was put together by Migrant Voice. The exhibit spoke to me and moved me to tears. I was born in the UK, but I grew up in the Czech Republic and also lived in Canada. Seeing the exhibit made me feel seen and less alone in my experience as someone who has left home.”
“Looking at the silent photos and typed words on the wall, I see powerful ripples spreading their ways into the minds of all who stand in front of them. I for one become emotional, reflecting on my life at my birth home then and at my chosen home now. I can say I am one of the lucky migrants who is welcomed, able to adopt and integrate and contribute to my community here in Glasgow. Thank you very very much Migrant Voice for lighting up my migrant's mind.”