Vocalised Youth

Vocalised Youth is a documentary series based on inspiring young people to speak up and talk about problems going on their lives, from mental health and depression, religion and love such as unwanted arranged marriages and homosexuality, through to politics and activists. I take portraits of my subjects in the street, and write down quotes and messages they want to share, to release it off their minds or give advise to ones going through a similar path. I am making a walkable display in an exhibition, mounting my photographs on one side of a foldable changing room, and their life story on the other side. The purpose is to prevent any means of prejudice, so you are clueless on the subjects story until you look at the photograph and walk around to read it. If one was to choose to read the story first they don't know what the subject looks like yet, so they build an image in their head to go with it, I aim for someone to be on the other side looking at the image, which will create a silhouette shadow through the material. So the person reading cannot have any prejudice towards the shadow as it is neutral and cannot be identified with ethnicity, gender or sexuality. In the words of Jay-Z "You can't heal, what you don't reveal" here by addressing not to hide who you are, or what your story is, in aim to give people the courage to talk more. The use of the 'changing room' is to display and connect instead of hiding behind, and as a means of making a change, and if not for yourself then the way you perceive others.