ARTIST RESIDENCY AT 42ND STREET
I created an anonymous webpage where young people could answer questions about their identity, how it makes them feel and how it can affect their mental health. I wanted this to be a safe space where people could truly express themselves and be inspired by other people speaking their truth. It was a place for discovery, a place for calm and a place for understanding.
In response I created artwork to sit alongside the answers and form a zine. I hoped this could be used in 42nd Street as a tool for young people to turn to when they have questions about their identity.
After facilitating 6 online workshops with the young people where we explored gender and identity through artwork, I requested an image of themselves to create a series of alternative portraits. My portraits aim to challenge the subject to see themselves from a different perspective, and I am interested to know if the image has an impact upon the subject. I also asked if there was anything that they wanted to share anonymously alongside their portraits. As a viewer you cannot make assumptions of this person based on physical image, this gives space for the person to share a part of themselves without judgement.
Here were my results.
