A Conversation with Hannah Rose Thomas

Join us in the Library for a conversation between author, artist, and human rights activist Hannah Rose Thomas and President and CEO of the International Peace Institute and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein.

This program introduces Thomas’ new book and coincides with the temporary art exhibition, Tears of Gold — both of which feature portraits of Yazidi, Rohingya, and Nigerian women who have suffered violence in areas of conflict.

“One of Hannah’s aims is to capture not only the courage and stoicism of the women who have suffered so much, but also the nobility, dignity, and extraordinary compassion that many of them manage to retain, despite their traumatic experiences. I very much hope that this beautiful book, Tears of Gold, will help enable the Yazidi, Rohingya, and Nigerian women’s voices to be heard, as well as to highlight the issue of the persecution of religious and ethnic minorities in general. All too often, their stories of suffering remain unseen and unheard – but Hannah Thomas is doing tremendous work in bringing their stories out into the open. May her powerful paintings spread the word and, God willing, have a positive impact in relieving the suffering of some of the most vulnerable and marginalised communities around the world.”

HRH Prince Charles (prior to his accession as HM King Charles III)

“…using a different color palette for each group…she captures her subjects’ particularities, as well as the sometimes-haunted, sometimes-resolute gaze they share­—which often seems to stare straight through the viewer.”

Publishers Weekly

The exhibition can be viewed in the Library from January 11th to January 27th.