Climate justice & displacement
“Sijelo is both a gathering and a body; a living collective formed through shared presence, dialogue, and material practice.”
In Bosnian, sijelo refers to an intimate social gathering — an evening visit among neighbours, friends, or family. It is a space of shared presence, conversation, storytelling, music, and hospitality. This meaning foregrounds collective experience, exchange, and the creation of temporary communities, which are central to our approach as an international art biennale.
At the same time, sijelo is also a word in Toki Pona meaning the body, torso, or physical substance of a person, animal, or object. Derived from the Croatian tijelo (“body”), this meaning emphasises embodiment, materiality, and the physical conditions through which experience and expression occur.
Together, these meanings position Sijelo as both a gathering and a body — a living collective formed through shared presence, dialogue, and material practice. It reflects our commitment to art as a social and embodied process: a coming together of diverse individuals, histories, and forms into a temporary but meaningful collective entity.
A collective of womxn* artists, creatives and activists dedicated to addressing the intertwined challenges of displacement, racial justice, and climate justice.
Each Gathering (in person) is a continuation of our shared journey with a group of womxn practitioners that began in November 2023 — one built on connections around collaboration, creativity, and radical care. Together, we will continue to shape this space, allowing our practices to speak of our own and each other’s work. In-person gathering is fundamental to continuing our work, valuing the importance of physical spaces and interactions.
Sijelo has been chosen as our collective name and artistic practice because it holds layered meanings that reflect the social, embodied, and relational nature of our work. We are dispersed across the United Kingdom, Sijelo will allow us to come together in a multitudinal happening, including conversations, makings and visual art to unlock unheard voices.
*We use this term to include transgender women and nonbinary people.
We run workshops, events and gatherings based on the philosophy of Emergent Strategy by adrienne maree brown. brown emphasises that profound change begins with small, intentional actions, as we engage in intimate, radical conversations that plant the seeds of transformation. These dialogues— full of insight, discomfort, and revelation— hold the power to shape movements that confront and dismantle systems of oppression.
A key question we explore is how we continue to work together and also how to document these radical conversations— capturing their transformative potential in a way that resonates with broader audiences and allies. Our aim is not just to record but to craft narratives that carry forward the energy and intent of our collective work.
As adrienne maree brown reminds us, “small is all.” Every action, every conversation is an opportunity to shape the future we want— a future where justice, care, and freedom for all are central to our movements.
“Our aim is not just to record but to craft narratives that carry forward the energy and intent of our collective work.”
Our members change from project to project, however at the moment our core group includes:
SAVE THE DATE! Conversations Across Roots and Borders will look back at and explore how satellites and artists responded to the If Trees Could Talk International biennale.
A one-day symposium where artists, researchers, technologists and organisers making and thinking with plants gathered to explore questions about nature, memory, and human connection through the senses.
An artist exchange to explore the Flamm 2026 theme of [Dis]Location, where three Flamm artists were paired with three Counterpoints artists. These exchanges were documented and shared online.
Exploring the interwoven connections between the climate crisis, migration, culture, tradition and memory in a day of talks and community listening sessions at the Eden Project, Cornwall.
A collective of womxn* dedicated to addressing the intertwined challenges of displacement, racial justice, and climate justice gathered on the Island of Portland for b-side festival.
As part of the Platforma Festival 2023 programme in the Southwest of England, Counterpoints organised a Climate & Displacement mini-retreat at Hawkwood College, Stroud.
In 2026, Sijelo is officially recognized as a satellite partner in the global conversation sparked by the If Trees Could Talk International Art Biennale. The bienalle aims to create dialogue on environmental issues and serve as a catalyst for social transformation in the age of the climate crisis.
Tell us what you’re dreaming of— we would love to dream with you.
Email: sijelocollective@proton.me