As minority artists, queries of social justice, stigmatisation, and fear slapped us all in the face after the 2016 presidential election results in the US. As a response, I decided to start capturing portraits of minority artists reacting to incendiary words that were being thrown around during the electoral race. These include, immigration, deportation, hate, racism, xenophobia, transsexuality, fear, islamophobia, colonisation, whitewashing, women, violence, homophobia, and silence among others. I soon discovered that these photography sessions were a reactionary safe haven for my subjects and I to discuss the current socio-political climate. Let’s face it, here we are again after the 2024 election results; the barrage of policy change and oppression towards minorities is blinding.

On specific methodology to experience each portrait; Inspired by a cinematic storytelling tool called The Kulechov Effect, where a closeup image of a subject is juxtaposed by a preceding and succeeding image, viewers of this photography series are instructed to close their eyes, say the accompanying word out loud, and open their eyes to view the portrait. I aspire to propagate a fleeting moment where the one who experiences the piece can briefly place themselves in the subject’s shoes.

Subjects are presented in front of a black or white background, which attempts to highlight them as allegorical floating figures in the deep darkness that is the social construct for minorities in the US.

With AFTER, I aim to create a space in which minority artists can be seen by those who oppress them- whether consciously or unconsciously.  In this space freedom is key and vulnerability is allowed. It's a place where our voices are heard through the collective power of an allegorical ensemble fueled by the torque of photography. I want to battle oppression with peace. As artists, our offering is our choice to connect. Only our vulnerability can liberate us from patterns of oppression, rejection, and expectation. 

Format- digital