Here’s an excerpt from an article from the BBC:
Young photographers use portraits to explore the world they live in
Photographers aged 16 to 19 have responded to the political and social climate they live in with a new exhibition in London.
Common Ground, at Autograph’s gallery in Shoreditch, east London, takes an autobiographical approach and explores issues around sexual identity, communities and race.
The photographers are from sixth-form and further-education colleges and have worked with arts organization Autograph and University of Arts London to produce the exhibition.
Here are additional portraits with descriptions by the photographers.
“My series of photographs represent the theme of cultural hybridity. Through self-portraiture and coloured film, I aim to capture my true personality.
“I focused on my mixed ethnicity of Algerian and Indian-Punjabi and additional factors that contribute to shaping the person I am.
“Being British and a Londoner, I convey the salience of merging my Western and ethnic garments through my day-to-day fashion and language.
“Visiting Algeria over the years has helped me to explore the roots of one of my halves thoroughly.
“I illustrate my Indian culture in smaller details, such as the beautiful jewellery, jhumka earrings and the amazing paisley patterns.”
“The colour of our skin is who we are and it shouldn’t be changed to fit anyone else’s perspective of beautiful but should be used to express the glow in our skin.
“As black people, we should be lifting each other up and praising our identity.
“I want people to feel proud and comfortable in their own skin and explore the unique shine that it comes with.”
“I was interested in creating a [photo] series that served as a metaphor for overcoming the challenges faced from the outside or within communities.
“Each shot came together and created what looked like one fluid movement – a movement of liberation and resilience.
“The portraits play with bold colours, haziness and dance-inspired gestures to portray phases of self-acceptance that many people from marginalised communities can relate to or feel empowered by.”
PhotoChronologies 