Exquisite People

On display June - August 2026

Over four months in 2025, participants from Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants worked alongside illustrator MURUGIAH to create a flip book and display in the Windmill Base at Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration.

Participants who have come to Islington from all over the world explored colours and materials, connecting to memories of the places they have come from and the people they met along the way. The heads, bodies and legs in the flip book can be mixed and matched to create new characters. Each one is a metaphor for how we build our identities and how they change over time. Together, they are an invitation to embrace diversity and explore the joy of illustration.

A Place of Sanctuary

Islington was made a Borough of Sanctuary by the charity City of Sanctuary in 2023. This status means that the borough is committed to being a welcoming and safe environment for refugees, migrants and people seeking asylum and to providing access to a wide range of activities and services for communities to meet. We want Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration to be a welcoming, safe, and inclusive space for everyone too. Creative projects such as this book encourage people to connect and participate, and to celebrate diversity and curiosity through illustration.

Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants

For almost 30 years, Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants’ refugee-led work has been helping people to overcome inequalities and rebuild their lives in London. Their approach is not political or institutional, but individual, compassionate, and human. They welcome people in, listen to what they need and respond. They offer services online and in-person, ranging from advice on housing, healthcare and legal support to cultural activities and English lessons. Whatever challenges refugees and migrants face, whatever support they need – Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants are there for them.