CONTINUE OUR RELAY OF WORDS
To celebrate the incredible wealth of artistic talent in the region and to coincide with the Birmingham 2022 official Queen’s Baton Relay we’ve collaborated with West Midlands’ spoken word artist Amerah Saleh to launch ‘The Relaytionship’; a relay of words, powered by the people of the West Midlands and the Commonwealth.
Contributions from the Commonwealth have helped create the hyper hybrid Relaytionship artwork, being launched on Tourism Day at UK House, 5 August.
The artwork is now available to view Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery until 30 September 2022 for all those attending the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games to enjoy and contribute to.
Contribute to the Relaytionship, by using the form below…
Learn more about the Relaytionship started...
As the Queen’s Baton has traversed 72 countries in 294 days, we have invited individuals from every corner of the Commonwealth to contribute their own unique words to an unfinished poem; and the hyper hybrid artwork. Now the Baton has completed its journey, the Relaytionship poem has now been completed and will be revealed for the first time at Tourism Day at UK House, 5 August alongside the artwork.
Read the unfinished poem so far…
The Relaytionship, by Amerah Saleh
We are tiny galaxies that pass each other quietly
We know when to come together
When to stand behind one another
We are multiple worlds colliding
Ready to embrace
Put the sun in your suitcase
Put the maps of the places you’re going to away
We are your tour guides
We’ll show you the architecture of our youth
The back to backs of our histories
The gardens of our stories
This galaxy is a combination of dreams and nightmares
At least we know that
We get up every morning
Continue to build on the shoulders of our heroes
Spin our world around
Tell us we are not the greatest
But we are in the middle of greatness.
Tell us what incredible is and we will provide?.....
We are the place you breathe at a human pace
The beauty of the capital
But the peace of a second
We can be children again
Tongues out at funfairs
Lollipops for being brave
To travel to another place
And find something new
What does home mean to you?......
To be continued…..
Amerah Saleh, spoken word artist, said:
“What does ‘home’ mean to you? What does ‘incredible’ mean to you? We’re asking communities around the Commonwealth to contribute words and images which reflect their answers to these questions. We feel these words both represent the spirit and experience of the West Midlands and Birmingham 2022, but also the unique experiences of individuals across the world. The voices, words and images across the Commonwealth will them be used to create a unique piece of art which we’re excited to develop as the poem develops.”
Minister for Sport and Tourism, Nigel Huddleston, said:
