Born in 1978 in Eritrea, lives and works in London.
Aida Silvestri studied photography at Kensington and Chelsea College and has a BA (Hons) in the subject from the University of Westminster, London.
She was voted one of the British Journal of Photography’s two Best of Show Winners at the Free Range exhibition, London in 2013.
Her work concerns sensitive issues of culture, ethnicity, identity, health and politics. She explores new and unique approaches to documentary photography in order to raise awareness.
EDUCATION
2014
University of Westminster, BA Photography, London, England
2012
Myths, London Academy, London England
TAQA Level 4 Qualification (Internal Quality Assurer)
2005 – 2008
BTEC Level 1 in Photography
BTEC Level 2 in Photography
Assessors Award A1, Kensington and Chelsea College, London England
SOLO SHOW
2016
Unsterile Clinic
Autograph APB, London England (July-September)
Even This Will Pass
Perspectives on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking: Visual Representations, Law and Social Justice
St Mary’s University, London England (March)
2014
Even This Will Pass
Roman Road, London England (March-May)
GROUP SHOW
2016
Unsterile Clinic and Even This Will Pass
Krisis
Bonington Gallery, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham England (October-December)
Even This Will Pass
Refugee Routes
Athens Photo Festival Benaki Museum Athens, Greece (June-July)
Unsterile Clinic
(Display at the Conference)
International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM conference
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, London England (February) (Display at the Conference)
Preventing Female Genital Mutilation: Emerging Practice
Queen Elizabeth II Centre, Broad Sanctuary Westminster, London (February)
2015
Even This Will Pass
START ART: This Is Tomorrow
Saatchi Gallery, London England (September)
Freshfaced + Wildeyed
The Photographers’ Gallery, London England (June-July)
Unsterile Clinic (Display at the Conference)
The Department of Health, Home Office and NHS FGM conference Ealing Town hall, London England (February)
2014
Even This Will Pass
Defining Lines
Brewery Tap, Folkestone England (October) The ING Discerning Eye
Mall Gallery, London England (November)
2013
Even This Will Pass
Degree Show
University of Westminster, Free Range Photography Exhibition, London England (June) London Gallery West
University of Westminster, London England (October)
AWARDS
2013
One of BJP’s two Best of Show winners at Free Range exhibitions
FETURED
Mashball, Jarring art exhibit confronts the harsh reality of female genital mutilation (September 2016)
TakePart, This Exhibit Wants to Break the Silence Around Female Genital Mutilation (August 2016)
INDIPENDENT, The darkest shadows: How a London artist is shining a light on FGM (August 2016)
TimeOut, Aida Silvestri: Unsterile Clinic (July 2016)
Hackney Citizen, Unsterile Clinic: silhouettes of FGM survivors (July 2016)
The Voice Online, Eye-opening photo exhibition on FGM comes to London (July 2016)
Artnet, 10 Great Reasons to Visit London's START Art Fair (September 2015)
ARTDEPeNDENCE, START. A new beginning for new art scenes (September 2015)
ELEPHANT, START Art Fair Gallery Picks: Top 5 (September 2015)
THE LONDON ART FILE, what's on, what's new and what's happening at London's museums and galleries (June 2015)
Photoworks, Ideas Series (June 2015)
Blow photo, Issue 12, (May 2015)
Photomonitor, Review (April 2014)
British Journal of Photography, Issue 7814, (July 2013)
Bob Books, (July 2013)
Many young Eritreans seek a new life away from their country, often called the “North Korea of Africa.” Their journey can be harrowing, but this conceptual series presents their stories in a subtle yet powerful light.
