Below the Surface
09.09.2011 - 25.09.2011
Let your pictures tell the story
“Below the surface” is a photographic project shedding light on the real life of young people in African and African-Caribbean communities in London, the life below the surface of public perception.
We gave disposable cameras to youngsters from various areas, communities and backgrounds in London, including young offenders and those at risk of social exclusion, with the task to document one day of his/her life.
The cameras were then collected and the images processed.
Involving some of the (volunteering) youngsters further, the processed images were then mounted and prepared for the exhibition/installation at the AACDD's 2011 Festival @ Bargehouse.
The installation is a large picture wall, a collage of life’s colourful facets within the African and African-Caribbean communities in London. The project tells a story of what we normally don’t see, a story of the struggle with social prejudice and misunderstanding, of hope and expectations, of families and relationships, told by young individuals from their point of view; thus giving us a unique insight into life below the surface.
The project also wanted to provide young people with the opportunity to discover photography as a means of self-expression and to explore the arts as a form of communication.
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Supported by
Comments
Comment by Clemens | 12.09.2011
The pictures for "Below the Surface" where taken by young people with African and African-Caribbean background across London. The only task was to photograph the life around them, what they see, what they experience. The "mood" of the installation is defined by those photographs and was not controlled or edited, only compiled.
A desired long term goal would be to extend the project and get many more young people involved to create an even bigger installation to show even more facets of young people's lives in their communities.
While there are indeed photographs of thought provoking nature, there are also quite a few that show life lived in happiness and joy.
Comment by chip | 08.09.2011
Hi there, saw the photographs today at "choices". Is there a long term goal for this project? There seems to be a theme of negativity throught the work.
Comment by Clemens | 03.09.2011
102 of the taken pictures have been developed today! More to follow tomorrow. We will be mounting them beginning of the week.
Comment by Clemens | 07.07.2011
We are very excited to be working with the African & African-Caribbean Design Diaspora on this project, and we are looking forward to a spectacular festival in September.
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