Embers of Care is a 100-artwork series by Yayen, a nurse, migrant, and artist, dedicated to honouring the journeys, resilience, and contributions of migrant healthcare workers in the UK. This project sheds light on the often-overlooked everyday realities within the healthcare system.
Presented in association with Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust at an online event as part of the Platforma Festival (October 2025) produced by Counterpoints Arts, Yayen spoke about the project.
Each artwork tells a unique story. There’s the nurse from Zimbabwe, who arrived with excitement, only to be met by Britain’s “summer” chill at 15°C. A Burmese medical student, a refugee, adding a layer of loss while losing a loved one to war while striving to rebuild her life here. A Nigerian physiotherapist, who spent months familiarizing himself with British television, only to struggle with the many regional accents that left him not understanding anything during his first handover. Similarly, a mental health nurse from Turkey discovered that the diversity of international accents—such as British-Indian, British-African, and British-European among many—made learning a new language all the more challenging.
Among these stories are the unsung heroes like Fred, who answers emergency calls at night. He reminds his colleagues that in countries like Kenya or the Philippines, they don’t have heaters and its something that most people should understand.
Across 2025, Yayen collaborated with 19 NHS Trusts, gathering narratives from migrant healthcare workers across England, informing him and giving inspiration to his artwork. Through these portraits and stories, he illustrates the ways in which migrants navigate cultural shifts, isolation, and personal sacrifices as they cross borders and build bridges to new communities. His goal is to celebrate these experiences, fostering empathy and solidarity among all.
