As part of Bow Arts’ 30 for 30 reflection, Aoife Pallister Begadon spoke to artist Bhajan Hunjan, one of Bow Arts’ most established Artist Educators, about her journey alongside the arts charity from its inception.

Since 2014, Bhajan has been a resident of Bow Arts’ P1 studios- our second studio site. Alongside her accomplished career as an artist who was shortlisted for the Max Mara Prize (2022-24) and featured at Tate Britain (Women In Revolt! Art, Activism and the Women’s movement in the UK 1970-1990), she has brought outstanding art education to pupils across east London.

Prior to Bow Arts’ formation, Bhajan met CEO Marel Baettig in the mid 90s while they were both residents at South Hill Park Arts Centre, in Berkshire. As young artists, they were part of a theatre project engaging young people with disabilities in the arts.

Marbles, Ceramics, Beads and Coins: Work in Schools

Speaking to Bhajan, she recalled some of her earliest projects: working with Woolmore Primary School, St Paul’s with St Luke’s, and Marion Richardson Primary School. Inspired by Gaudi’s architecture, Bhajan invited students to create tiles using memorabilia brought in from home. From the collection of tiles made by the students, Bhajan created large concrete panel installations, which decorated the walls of the schools.

Bhajan spoke lovingly about her work as an artist educator, the skills developed over the years of practice made deeply evident from the way she spoke. She told me that her job as an artist educator is to find the thing that sparks enthusiasm in each person she works with. As an artist, she aims to bring all of her skills, life experience and her years of hard work and offer it up to the participants, opening herself up to them so that they can find things to be enthusiastic about. By sharing parts of yourself, she related, you are able to inspire enthusiasm in others. Referencing these early learning projects, she relayed that one of the greatest joys of three-week-timelines was getting to know the children and seeing them develop in confidence and excitement, and really starting to care about the work. At the end when the work is finished, you see that they are so proud of what they have created.

Marion Richardson Primary School (left) and St Paul’s with St Luke’s Primary School (right) installations.

The Early Days of Live Work

Bhajan was one of the first residents as part of Bow Arts’ early live workspaces in 2007. While informal artist live-in communities had existed for many years, the regeneration of unused buildings, which Bow Arts undertook, had previously looked very different. While Bhajan spoke about the initial suspicion around live work spaces, I was struck by her commitment to her practice and the trust in Bow Arts’ unprecedented model. Bhajan recounted others’ worries about the building at the outset; concern that the spaces might become antisocial or have unsafe conditions. The reality was profoundly different. It was a joy to hear about the community of artists that formed as the live work spaces grew in popularity, reaching 30 to 40 artists over the time she lived there. Bhajan observed that communities of artists in London are rare, and deeply special. That so many artists committed to living there in the early days is a testament to the dedication that artists have to securing paths which allow them to pursue their work.

Though she no longer lives in Bow Arts’ live work spaces, Bhajan’s P1 studio remains a hub of connection and innovation. Bhajan invites students to come into her studio to use the press and see her workspace. She explained how valuable it is for young people to see creative workspaces; showing them how artists create a career and life for themselves. Likewise, she advocated that by speaking to artists about her career, aspiring creatives are able to understand and begin to form the connections and networks which are necessary to create a sustainable practice. This begins the essential process that allows artists to keep finding new projects and keep going financially. Young people need to actually see how artists survive, Bhajan asserted.

The Formation of Mohila Creations

The fruits of Bhajan’s consistent dedication to creativity and community are perhaps the most evident in the legacy of Mohila Creations: a group of women formed through workshops initiated by Bhajan.

Bhajan ran a weekly workshop with mostly Bangladeshi women who were mothers of young people at St Paul’s Way Trust School. In early sessions, Bhajan taught printmaking techniques. As time went by, the women learned to work with a variety of mediums and became increasingly competent and confident. What began as a weekly creative outlet became so much more than that: the group ran for about seven years, taking on the enormous variety of projects. With great care, Bhajan was able to recall the many different branches which formed the many enterprises created by the women involved in Mohila Creations.

Running stalls at school fairs and events, some women began independently making and selling their work to outlets. Bhajan proudly told me about some women who had gone on to teach workshops themselves, bringing their skills into schools for young people – one of whom had secured a permanent job in a school.

The workshops gave their members a space to support each other with CVs and job applications. A group who made food began selling at school fetes and markets before being asked to cater for school events, developing their business into an integral part of the school’s community.

Recognising Art’s Humanity

Bhajan also spoke about the team at Bow Arts, generously wanting to recognise how their work has contributed to her success and projects. She told us that the care and effort which staff at Bow Arts put into projects is at the core of what makes the work possible. The team are dedicated to making sure that everyone feels appreciated, and understand the enthusiasm which allows creativity to flourish.

There’s so much division in our world right now, Bhajan recognised at the end of our conversation, but something which artists are great at doing is finding the best people and bringing them together. Artists share their humanity, and by doing this they unite people through their projects and work.

Upcoming Work

Bow Arts is thrilled to be hosting an exhibition of Bhajan’s work at the Nunnery Gallery in 2026. As such a significant figure in Bow Arts’ journey, we keenly look forward to hosting a collection of her work from across the years. More information on this exhibition to come!

Bhajan is also part of an exciting upcoming public art project with Poplar HARCA and Bow Arts as part of a new housing development at Stroudley Walk, celebrating the legacy of the Suffragettes in Bow. Watch this space!