West Ham Park’s Hidden Histories: Umia Kukathasan, Riitta Hakkarainen, Kilian Becker

About West Ham Park’s Hidden Histories: Umia Kukathasan, Riitta Hakkarainen, Kilian Becker

Three local artists have united in a collective to celebrate the park we love and unveil the hidden narratives shared by our neighbours.

We’re excited to learn about and share the stories from our community. We’ll be gathering oral histories, producing a radio programme, and creating a short film for screening, followed by panel discussions. Join us for a public event in West Ham Park, where we’ll walk through the collected memories portrayed in artwork. We’ll also host a community art session, featuring a cyanotype workshop, to celebrate the park’s 150th birthday. These interviews will be archived in the Newham Archives, preserving them for future generations to enjoy.

Umia Kukathasan performing experimental music with objects and electronics at Iklectik. Photo by Jonathan Crabb 2018.

Umia Kukathasan’s lockdown exploration of local areas, contrasting her Sri Lankan heritage with her Irish upbringing, sparked her interest in local heritage. Her frequent visits to West Ham Park during maternity leave fuelled her curiosity. As an artist specialising in sound, she performs solo, collaborates in an experimental trio, and exhibits installations with a fascination with collective mythology and ritual. Umia’s interest in oral histories dates back over a decade. Projects in South London and Italy unearthed diverse local memories, including an 80-year span of a nun-led nursery school. Umia weaves together the connections between people and places, shaping rich heritage narratives.

Riitta Hakkarainen at work on a film set. Photo by Niki Bruckner for Dark Psyche Ltd 2016.

Riitta Hakkarainen, an East London-based artist and stage designer, intertwines academic research with her creative endeavours. An immigrant herself, she finds solace and inspiration in Newham’s diverse tapestry. She is passionate about delving into people’s stories, and has illustrated anthropological field interviews on children’s migration in North and East Europe, created animations on African women’s personal stories of childbirth, and crafted art installations based on oral interviews of children’s historic experiences in a pre-school run by nuns in Italy. Riitta’s work highlights cultural heritage while preserving and amplifying the voices of marginalised communities. Through her art, she strives for the recognition and celebration of diverse narratives, weaving them into the fabric of our collective heritage.

Kilian ‘The Phantomat’ Becker in front of one of his abstract silk paintings.

As a Newham resident, Kilian (the Phantomat) encounters occasional negativity but finds purpose in contributing to its betterment. Transgender and of Latin American descent with Northern parentage, he thrives in diverse environments. With over two decades of professional artistry, he paints his shamanic journeys. His recent works, featuring silk canvases delicately shredded on the edges, exhibit beautiful blues merging into the fabric, juxtaposed with intricate black patterns reminiscent of crawling insects. Through his art, he confronts and transforms eerie energies, fostering connection and understanding within himself and the community.