Testimonials

”Masa’s workshop was deeply transformative for me as it was the first time in my life I was able to begin to make sense of the violence and pain of both migration and kinship. These were lingering traumas in my life that were always pushed to the back in the face of needing to survive but masa has crafted a gentle entry point to reflect on trauma and to generate healing through doing. Rather than face past pain frontally, we entered through the arts and I worked with photography, text, and collaging to assemble my feelings and literally work through them slowly and with a sense that maybe I could tell my own story through my own aesthetic. I could focus on the practice of making and, through that, on some openings to healing."

- Hemangini, 44

"I was part of the Experimental Art and Theater Storytelling Workshop led by Masa and Azadeh. There were 4 students in the workshop, myself included. At Prague Film School, where we have been used to certain atmosphere's in class, the atmosphere in the workshop stood out very distinctly as - creating a safe space for people to open up and be vulnerable. And I did indeed see each one of those students open up like flowers during the different sessions that the workshop had. I myself enjoyed the dreaming sequence where I traveled back to my childhood and made a whistling song. I think Masa is a magician in her own way: the kind of magic that doesn't imply pulling a pigeon out of your pocket. Perhaps this is the magic of listening and inviting people to open up."

- Var, 38

The experience I had during the Visual Storytelling Workshop was of a great significance to me! As a woman actively working in arts, I believe you rarely get an opportunity to truly slow down, connect with yourself and be able to freely express all sorts of thoughts. The workshop allowed us all to disconnect for a while, let ourselves free of mundane stress and distractions, providing a safe space to focus on our feelings, our past and our present. I especially enjoyed the part where we got to work with our family archives. Going through the old photographs and sharing stories with each other really bonded people at the workshop and allowed us not only to deeper connect with ourselves, but also with the other participants.

- Kyra, 19

The biggest transformation for me was seeing myself in a completely new light. I never thought I would be able to shoot a film on my own or create a collage artwork. Those moments were really surprising for me. Now, I feel much more confident in my ability to create art and express myself creatively. The descansos were also very inspiring to me. That retrospective view of my life left a deep impact on me. And, of course, gaining a friend and mentor like you has been my greatest takeaway. Thank you.

- Eslem, 25

It was a truly inspiring and creative experience. The visual storytelling exercises really opened up new perspectives on scriptwriting and were an absolute joy to participate in. They also helped me tap into my creativity and provided an opportunity to reflect on aspects of my childhood and the nature of values. I’m very grateful for that!

- Alevtina, 51

"The visual storytelling workshop designed by Masa specifically helped me get out of my self imposed mental and creative block. It was a cathartic session for me. Masa creates a safe and judgment free zone for you to be able to tell your stories without the pressure of performance. It's nice to not only narrate your accounts but listen and learn from your peers. I urge you to take the workshop and see the magic unfold."

- Julia, 31

The session was truly inspiring and made me realize that I have a special way of telling stories which people are able to connect with. A while ago, I lost all motivation, saying that, “there are many people who wrote a similar story”. This lesson replied with: “But YOU haven’t written yet, in your own special way. Go write!” Thank you, truly. I stopped believing in myself. I shall retrace my steps now and see how far I have gotten. I am grateful for this wonderful experience.

- Michelle, 19

The environment that Maša created in the classroom was very pleasant. She was supportive and curious about our work, but also respected our boundaries and didn't push us into anything, which made me feel safe. The activities were original, sufficiently challenging and inspiring. Personally, I enjoyed talking in pairs about given prompts as well as visually recreate our written piece

- Izi, 21

Thank You Maša once again for your workshop - I am so glad I had the chance to be part of it once again!:) I felt that the atmosphere in the class was relaxed and students were most of the tome willing to share their thoughts, even though they’ve seen you for the first time. I find that amazing, that you just have this effect on people.

- Eliška

I liked the whole idea of sharing our story, no matter if it's negative or positive. Personally I am not a sharing person, so it was a bit difficult for me to share anything with my partner, but it was an amazing experience.

- Darina, 21