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Figures of Freedom
A symbol of hope and freedom through culture
Figures of Freedom is a unique fundraising project by WE RESTART Charity, showcasing exquisite paper sculptures crafted by Sudanese artist-in-residence Maisson Hassan Matar. These delicate sculptures, shaped like men and women in the act of reading, are made from the pages of old, damaged books—transforming discarded words into symbols of hope, freedom, and emancipation through culture.
Each sculpture tells a powerful story, honouring figures like Malala Yousafzai, Nelson Mandela, and Maya Angelou, whose courage and dedication to education and justice changed the world.
Offered for a suggested minimum donation of £25 each, every penny supports WE RESTART Charity’s mission to empower asylum seekers, refugees, and marginalized communities through the transformative power of art and education.
By purchasing a Figure of Freedom, you’re not just acquiring a beautiful sculpture—you’re helping to rewrite the stories of those seeking a brighter future. Let’s make a difference together!
Which one is your favourite figure of freedom?
ROSA
CHINUA
ROSA
Rosa Parks, the African American activist whose refusal to give up her bus seat ignited the civil rights movement in the U.S., inspired this doll. Rosa’s quiet but firm defiance symbolizes the strength to demand equality and justice.
MAYA
CHINUA
ROSA
Named after Maya Angelou, the acclaimed poet, author, and civil rights activist. Her works, such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, celebrate the resilience of the human spirit against oppression.
CHINUA
CHINUA
CHINUA
This doll is named after Chinua Achebe, the Nigerian author of Things Fall Apart. Achebe’s work explores the clash of cultures during colonialism, emphasizing the importance of preserving cultural identity.
ZAHRA
SIMONE
CHINUA
This doll is named after Zahra Joya, an Afghan journalist and founder of Rukhshana Media, a news platform amplifying the voices of Afghan women. Growing up in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, Zahra defied restrictions on women’s education by disguising herself as a boy to attend school.
SIMONE
SIMONE
SIMONE
Simone de Beauvoir, the French existentialist philosopher and feminist author of The Second Sex, inspired this doll. Her writings challenged traditional gender roles and advocated for women’s liberation. This doll symbolizes the power of critical thinking to break social conventions.
FREIRE
SIMONE
SIMONE
Named after Paulo Freire, the Brazilian educator and philosopher who wrote Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Freire believed that education should empower individuals to question and transform their realities.
MARIE
TAGORE
TAGORE
Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only one to win it in two sciences (Physics and Chemistry), inspires this doll. Despite facing immense gender-based challenges, her ground breaking research in radioactivity transformed science forever. This doll celebrates the triumph of intellect over societal constraints.
TAGORE
TAGORE
TAGORE
Rabindranath Tagore, the Indian poet and Nobel laureate, inspired this doll. His works advocate for harmony, education, and freedom of thought. Tagore believed that culture and literature were vital tools to unify humanity. This doll embodies his ideals of enlightenment and peace.
MALALA
TAGORE
MANDELA
Inspired by Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel laureate, this doll represents the courage of a girl who defied the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education. Malala was shot on her way to school in Pakistan but survived to become a global advocate for education rights. This sculpture reminds us that the pursuit of knowledge is a revolutionary act that can shape the world.
MANDELA
MANDELA
MANDELA
This doll honors Nelson Mandela, who spent 27 years in prison fighting apartheid in South Africa. Mandela believed education is the most powerful weapon to change the world. His unwavering dedication to justice and equality makes him a symbol of freedom and emancipation. This figure embodies his enduring legacy.
Maisson Hassan
About the artist
Maisson Hassan Matar, a self-taught artist with an MSc in Physics, has made significant strides in leveraging art for social change. In 2013, she founded Fandora in her home country, Sudan. This social enterprise, whose name translates to "The role of art in the community," focused on reducing poverty and addressing waste management issues in Khartoum through innovative recycling crafts. Maisson's entrepreneurial spirit was recognized when she became a top-four finalist in the Mashrouy competition for entrepreneurship. She and her team trained hundreds of women in income-generating activities, collaborating with international organizations and local NGOs, while also organizing specialized art workshops for youth and children.
Maisson's impact has been internationally acknowledged. In 2015, she was nominated and selected as Sudan's ambassador for Women Entrepreneurship Day, joining a global team of ambassadors who celebrate and support women and girls worldwide. To further promote recycling art, she initiated and managed Khartoum's first environmental festival, the "Trash Secrets Festival," in 2016, featuring over 40 Sudanese artists who use recycled materials. This festival significantly raised awareness about environmental issues in Sudan. Despite the outbreak of war in Sudan in April 2023, which forced Maisson to seek asylum in the UK, she remains determined to rebuild her life. Currently, she is an asylum seeker and has been awarded a studio residency at WE RESTART Charity, participating in the A.R.I.A. Hub programme to continue her work and reach her full potential in a supportive environment.