© Camilo Arias
We sat down with Hope Away From Home artist Camilo Arias, whose personal journey through forced displacement has deeply shaped his creative process
By Soo-Jung Kim in Ottawa, Canada
On a snowy evening in Ottawa, far from his hometown in Colombia, Camilo Arias was setting up the paints and easels for his Resilience Canvas workshop in a cozy, intimate café.
Opening the workshop by recounting his experience of forced displacement, Camilo Arias shares with participants the deep impact of losing one’s home, identity, and sense of belonging.
Through his visual narratives, he invites others to explore their own resilience and the healing power of art. This conversation highlights the emotional complexity of his art, and the powerful role creativity can play in navigating difficult experiences.
Visit the Hope Away From Home campaign to learn more.
1. Some of your work deeply explores the theme of displacement. Can you share a specific moment or experience that first inspired you to channel your personal story of displacement into your art?
One of the most defining moments of my life was having to leave my grandmother alone in the countryside due to the violence of war. She faced immense economic and health challenges, and that marked me deeply. My spirit somehow remains in that rural landscape, and I think that’s why I often paint forests and pastoral scenes — they are my way of staying connected to the place and to her.
2. In your piece, ‘Refugees,’ there seems to be a delicate balance between the pain of losing one’s home and the resilience of the human spirit. How do you navigate these two emotional extremes in your artwork?
I believe that pain and resilience are two sides of the same story. One exists because of the other. In ‘Refugees,’ I consciously allowed both emotions to coexist. Through the depiction of characters leaving their past lives behind, I explore grief and loss. Yet their forward movement speaks to resilience and the possibility of renewal. For me, creating art embodies resilience — it’s about transforming pain into something meaningful and beautiful.
3. Forced displacement often results in a sense of fragmented identity. How do you explore this theme of lost or redefined identity in your art, and do you believe your work helps people reclaim or redefine their sense of self?
My approach to identity is rooted in the concepts of homeostasis and transistasis—constant change without losing one’s essence. The war, violence, and displacement are integral parts of my history, shaping my identity. Thanks to resilience and art, I can transform these experiences into inspiration, connecting both with myself and with others. Through my work and workshops, I don’t aim to define anyone’s identity but rather to inspire people to discover their inner strength and determination to face life’s challenges. And yes, art is healing—not only for me but for the viewer, creating bridges of empathy and understanding.
4. Art is often described as a form of communication that lives beyond borders and language. How do you use visual elements to express the universal aspects of the refugee experience that might not be easily conveyed through words?
There are moments and feelings that words fail to capture—like the weight of nostalgia or the bittersweet beauty of resilience. I rely on colors, textures, and compositions to speak when words fall short. In my piece ‘Refugees,’ for example, the sunset in the forest symbolizes both the explosions of bombs from the conflict I lived through and a hopeful ending to the day. The same element holds dual meanings, embodying both a haunting past and the promise of something brighter.
5. Your background in Colombia undoubtedly influences your perspective. How do you integrate your cultural heritage into your work? Are there any elements from living in Canada that you incorporate into your artwork today?
My Colombian heritage is a vibrant thread in my work—it’s present in my use of bold colors, organic forms, and an intuitive connection to storytelling. Since moving to Canada, I’ve been deeply focused on my role as a father and leading art workshops, which has placed conceptual art production somewhat on hold. I’m still in the process of absorbing Canadian influences, and I look forward to integrating them into my evolving artistic style.
6. Some of your artworks explore themes of memory and belonging. How do you incorporate the idea of home and hope — whether it’s lost, imagined, or reinvented — into your artistic process?
Home, for me, is not a static place but a journey shaped by experiences, memories, and aspirations. In my art, I often explore this fluid idea of home through dynamic landscapes and symbolic elements that reflect both nostalgia and transformation. Hope emerges through the act of creation itself—building layers that speak to resilience and growth, even in fragmented or uncertain times.
7. As an artist who has lived through displacement, do you see your work as a form of advocacy or activism?
Yes, I see my work as a form of advocacy by giving voice to those who often go unheard. Displacement may not be a direct experience for everyone, but feelings of loss, fear, uncertainty, or being out of place are universal. My art seeks to tell people, “You are not alone. I see your pain.” It is through this recognition that connection and healing begin—leading to empathy and understanding that can change lives, perspectives, and eventually transform entire societies. I want them to see that resilience and beauty can emerge from even the most difficult circumstances. Ultimately, I hope my art reminds people that we all carry stories of longing and belonging, and that we are more connected than we might realize.
8. Your art has been a tool for personal transformation and healing. How did come up with the concept Resilience Canvas workshop?
The Resilience Canvas workshop was born from my personal journey of using art to process challenges and rediscover my strength. Overcoming adversity, particularly my experiences with abandonment and war, taught me that resilience is not just about surviving but about creating beauty and meaning from difficult circumstances. I wanted to share that transformative process with others.
Through this workshop, I guide participants to explore their inner world, channel emotions creatively, and emerge with a canvas that symbolizes their own resilience. It’s not just about painting—it’s about telling a story of personal strength, growth, and hope.
My goal is for participants to leave with more than just a piece of art. I hope they walk away feeling empowered, connected, and reminded that, like a canvas, we can always reimagine and transform our lives. Creativity becomes a metaphor for resilience—both in art and in life.
Camilo Arias is a Colombian-born artist whose work reflects the profound impact of displacement and resilience of the human spirit. Having experienced displacement firsthand, Camilo understands the deep emotional and psychological toll of losing one’s home, identity, and sense of belonging. Through his art, Camilo creates visual narratives that speak to the emotional complexity of displacement—highlighting both its pain and its transformative power.
Instagram: @camiloarias.art
www.camilo-arias.com
About Hope Away From Home
Art heals by bringing beauty, joy, and opportunities for reflection. In a world filled with heavy headlines and overwhelming statistics, UNHCR’s Hope Away From Home campaign offers a fresh perspective on the refugee experience. This web-based art exhibit celebrates the voices of refugee and diasporic artists who are not just survivors but creators, innovators, and dreamers. Through painting, poetry, and music, their works forge deep emotional connections that lives beyond borders. Hope Away From Home is more than just a platform for art; it’s a movement for a Canada that embraces diversity, compassion, and solidarity, aiming to raise awareness of the challenges refugees face and encourage visitors to take steps toward championing ways to support and protect refugees.
