Art / Being Brit(ish)
Youth-led exhibition to explore identity, belonging and migration
A new youth-led photography exhibition is set to explore questions of identity, belonging and migration in Bristol.
Titled Being Brit(ish), the exhibition has been developed by a group of 16 to 25-year-old creatives from Babbasa’s Challenge Programme.
Amid continuing exclusionary rhetoric, at the project’s heart is the question: what does it mean to be British today?
Babbasa’s Challenge Programme enables young people to tackle a social issue in Bristol that they are passionate about
“It’s a difficult conversation about growing up somewhere your whole life, but then being told you don’t belong here,” says Mallika Khan, explaining the meaning behind Being Brit(ish).
The exhibition focuses on the lived experience of young people in Bristol, following a group of friends as they move through the city on their way to a picnic.
“The idea is that they’re British, but they feel like they’re ‘British-ish’,” continued Mallika, project leader who said the showcase is entirely youth-run from conception to creation.
“I think they wanted to respond to hate rather with care instead of confrontation. Hate usually breeds hate.”
The exhibition highlights the struggle of Bristol’s youth who feel excluded
Babbasa’s Challenge Programme enables young people to tackle a social issue in Bristol that they are passionate about.
Ann Rabea, 17, from St George, said the project reflects the realities faced by many young people from migrant backgrounds.
“This exhibition is to highlight the challenges immigrants and people who are not ‘typical’ British people, hence the name,” she said.
“Babbasa has really helped to emphasise the issues that the young people want to bring up, especially during the harsh times in Bristol with the riots happening, racism rising and fascist groups like the Bristol Patriots making it unsafe for so much people like me to even step out of the house.
“We want to make sure that being British is redefined by the people who it affects, the people of colour and culture in the city.”
Ruby Naghoj, also 17 and from east Bristol, described working on the project as “amazing”.
“We want the visitors to take away that no matter which country you come from, and no matter how others treat you, yes, you are British, and yes, you should be proud of your identity.”
Being Brit(ish) will be unveiled on Friday at the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft. For more information, visit babbasa.com/eventbrite-event/being-brit-ish-a-youth-led-photography-exhibition-by-culture-shock
All photos: Being Brit(ish)
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