Peaceophobia
If ‘Islam’ comes from ‘peace’, how can you fear peace?
Peaceophobia is an unapologetic response to rising Islamophobia around the world. Part-car meet, part-theatre, the show explores how you find peace in a world that tells you who you are.
Growing up in the shadow of the Bradford Riots, 9/11 and police harassment, cars and faith are a sanctuary, an escape, an expression for three Muslim Pakistani men. Ali, Sohail and Casper are taking control of the narratives around their religion, their city, and their cars.
Staged in a carpark with a Supra, a Golf and a classic Nova, Peaceophobia brings together cars and theatre with cinematic lighting and an original electronic sound score.
Accompanying Peaceophobia in the car park is the SISTERHOOD exhibition created by young women from Speakers Corner, highlighting their friendship and celebrating femininity, pride, and collective strength.
Sisterhood
An exhibition celebrating femininity, pride and collective strength, as told by the empowering women of Speakers Corner.
The beauty in the photoshoot is that there is no justification, just claiming the space and taking control. As young women, we live in a state of flux, sometimes hyper-visible and sometimes completely invisible. Born out of a lack of positivity within the media narrative, these photographs present a sense of freedom and utopia, a chance for us to exist and be seen in the way we want to be! For us, Sisterhood is about unconditional acceptance, being there for each other no matter the circumstances by uprising through the darkness and celebrating life.
Speakers Corner is a political, creative, cultural collective based in Bradford led by young women. Our goal is to connect and inspire people to create social change.
This project was a collaboration with art director Neesha Champaneria and photographer Vivek Vadoliya. It was shot around Bradford in 2020, highlighting the beauty of Yorkshires landscape and paying tribute to our city.
In partnership with
Co-created by Common Wealth, Speakers Corner and Bradford Modified Club. Written by Zia Ahmed.
Peaceophobia is supported by Without Walls, Bradford 2025, Co-Creating Change, Arts Council England, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Pears Foundation, and Fenton Arts Trust. The R&D for Peaceophobia was supported by Blueprint: Without Walls R&D Investment Fund.