Before the Winter break, Regent’s Foundation (Politics, Society and Citizenship) cohort put theory into practice with a trip to the HOPE93 gallery for The Purpose of Light exhibition. Here, Lecturer (Foundation & Perspectives) Elif Toker explores what made this such an invaluable opportunity for these students – and why visits like this should are at the heart of the Regent’s learning and teaching experience.
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Last term, Regent's Foundation (Politics, Society and Citizenship) cohort stepped out of the classroom and into one of London’s most thought-provoking cultural spaces. Together with my colleague Katerina Tsitsi, I took our students to HOPE93, a central London gallery, to experience The Purpose of Light, the powerful photography exhibition by internationally renowned artist and activist Misan Harriman. It became one of the most meaningful field visits I’ve had the pleasure to organise at Regent’s — an encounter that brought our module’s themes to life in a way no seminar ever could.
An extraordinary field trip experience
HOPE93 is led by Aki Abiola, the only Black gallery owner in London, whose vision for the space resonates with the questions of identity, representation and civic responsibility our students explore. His presence, generosity and openness immediately set the tone for a visit rooted in authenticity and dialogue.
What made the day extraordinary was the time both Abiola and Harriman, as gallery owner and artist respectively, offered to our students. Rather than simply viewing the exhibition, our group found themselves in direct conversation with two individuals shaping some of the most urgent cultural and political conversations of our time. Harriman spoke with moving clarity about the emotional and ethical dimensions of his work – bringing key themes to life and giving students a chance to really get their teeth into the ideas being presented through the artwork on display.
He also reflected on the responsibility behind documenting social movements, sharing key insights which were sure to prompt thoughtful question and consideration from our students: ‘The camera is a witness. It doesn’t just capture what’s happening — it captures who we choose to be when history calls.’
For our students, who have been studying active citizenship, media literacy and the politics of representation, hearing these perspectives first-hand made a deep impression.
Connecting theory and experience
Within the Politics, Society and Citizenship module, students interrogate how power operates, how communities mobilise and how visual culture shapes public understanding. The Purpose of Light offered a rare opportunity to see these ideas expressed through striking and emotionally charged images. Harriman explained: ‘If these images do anything, I hope they remind people that light is not passive. It’s something we protect, something we pass on, especially when the world feels heavy.’
For many students, this encounter helped bridge the gap between academic ideas and lived experience. One reflected: ‘Seeing the exhibition helped me understand activism not just as a political concept, but as something deeply human.'
Another shared: ‘Speaking with the gallery owner made me think differently about representation and citizenship.'
Interdisciplinarity in action
This visit also demonstrated Regent’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach. In a single morning, students engaged with art, politics, history, identity, activism and ethics. They moved from analysing photographic composition to discussing documentation, community narratives and their own roles as citizens.
London’s cultural landscape provides the perfect environment for this kind of learning: a place where disciplines intersect organically and where classroom theory is challenged, expanded and enriched by real-world engagement.
A lasting impact
Watching our students ask thoughtful questions, reflect critically and connect with Harriman and Abiola was deeply moving. It reaffirmed the transformative potential of experiential learning and the value of bringing students into spaces where culture and citizenship intersect so powerfully.
The Purpose of Light offered our Foundation cohort not only an encounter with an extraordinary artist and visionary gallery owner, but a meaningful moment of self-reflection — as emerging thinkers, creators and citizens in a complex world. Visits like this remain at the heart of the Regent’s experience, illuminating how interdisciplinary study can come alive beyond the classroom.