Identity

Identities are about beliefs, personality traits, and expressions that characterise a person or a group. Rather than a single fixed variable, identity is treated as an evolving construct tied to how participants experience specific social dynamics, for instance of race/ethnicity, gender, and sexuality, among others, throughout the life course. The images show that this multidimensional character of identity is challenging to represent, revealing only a glimpse of the many ways of characterising a person. Yet, identities are claimed and important to participants. In this exhibition, we see identity as what participants decide to show and how they define themselves and who they are – whether it is a hobby, a personal position, or simply a way of wanting to be seen.

This is our church. A very, very important part of our lives. We’re out in the middle of nowhere, but we have the most amazing view of the Mendips [valley]. It’s a slightly smaller congregation because it’s the holidays, but this was our church last week. - Mother participant, Bristol
This is our church. A very, very important part of our lives. We’re out in the middle of nowhere, but we have the most amazing view of the Mendips [valley]. It’s a slightly smaller congregation because it’s the holidays, but this was our church last week. - Mother participant, Bristol
I think Ukrainian refugees live on that boat. I don’t remember what it’s called, but we regularly get another letter saying that refugees are going to live across the street. I like that boat. And then I’m a Muslim myself and I think that mosque is just the most beautiful one I’ve seen in the Netherlands so far. The most beautiful mosque. - Mother participant, Rotterdam
I think Ukrainian refugees live on that boat. I don’t remember what it’s called, but we regularly get another letter saying that refugees are going to live across the street. I like that boat. And then I’m a Muslim myself and I think that mosque is just the most beautiful one I’ve seen in the Netherlands so far. The most beautiful mosque. - Mother participant, Rotterdam
Since turning 18 I’ve wanted to join political parties and participate in certain demonstrations. I’ve met several people who are part of communities involved in politics or who are part of LGBT communities, and a large part of my friends are too. It was an important experience for me. I went with my friends, we managed to learn a lot of new things and meet other types of people who were there in protest — not just people from these communities, but those who like to be there to support against the struggle. It was a step out of a safe space for many people. I liked the message on the poster a lot, which says that “loving freely isn’t a crime“. - Participant, Porto
Since turning 18 I’ve wanted to join political parties and participate in certain demonstrations. I’ve met several people who are part of communities involved in politics or who are part of LGBT communities, and a large part of my friends are too. It was an important experience for me. I went with my friends, we managed to learn a lot of new things and meet other types of people who were there in protest — not just people from these communities, but those who like to be there to support against the struggle. It was a step out of a safe space for many people. I liked the message on the poster a lot, which says that “loving freely isn’t a crime“. - Participant, Porto
Since turning 18 I’ve wanted to join political parties and participate in certain demonstrations. I’ve met several people who are part of communities involved in politics or who are part of LGBT communities, and a large part of my friends are too. It was an important experience for me. I went with my friends, we managed to learn a lot of new things and meet other types of people who were there in protest — not just people from these communities, but those who like to be there to support against the struggle. It was a step out of a safe space for many people. I liked the message on the poster a lot, which says that “loving freely isn’t a crime“. - Participant, Porto
Since turning 18 I’ve wanted to join political parties and participate in certain demonstrations. I’ve met several people who are part of communities involved in politics or who are part of LGBT communities, and a large part of my friends are too. It was an important experience for me. I went with my friends, we managed to learn a lot of new things and meet other types of people who were there in protest — not just people from these communities, but those who like to be there to support against the struggle. It was a step out of a safe space for many people. I liked the message on the poster a lot, which says that “loving freely isn’t a crime“. - Participant, Porto
This photo is of the CTG (Gaucho´s center of tradition), where we went and there was a little bingo. I have a daughter of a nephew of mine who’s part of the invernada (a departamento within CTG responsible for organising artistic and cultural activities), so we participate there. - Mother participant, Pelotas
This photo is of the CTG (Gaucho´s center of tradition), where we went and there was a little bingo. I have a daughter of a nephew of mine who’s part of the invernada (a departamento within CTG responsible for organising artistic and cultural activities), so we participate there. - Mother participant, Pelotas
This photo was from the parade now on September 20 (Farroupilha Revolution), from our traditions. I went there on the avenue to take a look. - Mother participant, Pelotas
This photo was from the parade now on September 20 (Farroupilha Revolution), from our traditions. I went there on the avenue to take a look. - Mother participant, Pelotas
This is my DJ setup at home – my sacred life. If someone did something to that DJ set I’d die, and it’s a really crappy setup too. Especially the box is really bad. - Participant, Rotterdam
This is my DJ setup at home – my sacred life. If someone did something to that DJ set I’d die, and it’s a really crappy setup too. Especially the box is really bad. - Participant, Rotterdam
BTS– I don’t know if anyone is familiar with them, a K-Pop group. I became a fan of them a long time ago and they did teach me to love myself. A lot of those songs are about difficult periods in their lives and I did learn from that. Once you are a bit of a BTS fan, you really dive into their whole life– The “K-Pop Rabbit Hole” they call it. It remains an important part of my life. - Participant, Rotterdam
BTS– I don’t know if anyone is familiar with them, a K-Pop group. I became a fan of them a long time ago and they did teach me to love myself. A lot of those songs are about difficult periods in their lives and I did learn from that. Once you are a bit of a BTS fan, you really dive into their whole life– The “K-Pop Rabbit Hole” they call it. It remains an important part of my life. - Participant, Rotterdam
The last one is my friends, doing karaoke at each others’ homes. We love to do the karaoke in the living room. This is a time for us, for us to sing. - Participant, Porto
The last one is my friends, doing karaoke at each others’ homes. We love to do the karaoke in the living room. This is a time for us, for us to sing. - Participant, Porto
We play board games a lot. We have an entirely ridiculous selection. To put it in perspective, monopoly games alone, I own about 26 now. - Participant, Bristol
We play board games a lot. We have an entirely ridiculous selection. To put it in perspective, monopoly games alone, I own about 26 now. - Participant, Bristol
Video games are another part of me, especially story-driven games, they have a big impact on me, knowing the story of the characters and their role in that game is something incredible for me. - Participant, Porto
Video games are another part of me, especially story-driven games, they have a big impact on me, knowing the story of the characters and their role in that game is something incredible for me. - Participant, Porto
These are things in my life that bring me happiness, things that bring me comfort. I have my collection of Lego, which is something I’ve been doing since I was a child. It makes me happy whenever I have the possibility of seeing anything to do with Lego. - Participant, Porto
These are things in my life that bring me happiness, things that bring me comfort. I have my collection of Lego, which is something I’ve been doing since I was a child. It makes me happy whenever I have the possibility of seeing anything to do with Lego. - Participant, Porto
You guys don’t know, but I really like cars. My life is very tied to cars. On the day I go to events, there’s one of my best friends, who’s a mechanic and prepares the cars. - Participant, Porto
You guys don’t know, but I really like cars. My life is very tied to cars. On the day I go to events, there’s one of my best friends, who’s a mechanic and prepares the cars. - Participant, Porto
There’s that orchid there, which I think is very beautiful. I really like plants and trees, I always try to take care of them, at least. I also make avocado seedlings. The seedling here, we planted. Now it’s a little avocado plant that I take care of. I hope it works out. - Mother participant, Pelotas
There’s that orchid there, which I think is very beautiful. I really like plants and trees, I always try to take care of them, at least. I also make avocado seedlings. The seedling here, we planted. Now it’s a little avocado plant that I take care of. I hope it works out. - Mother participant, Pelotas
I work in a school library and because I love reading so much, my husband made me this mini public library in front of our house for my birthday. - Mother participant, Rotterdam
I work in a school library and because I love reading so much, my husband made me this mini public library in front of our house for my birthday. - Mother participant, Rotterdam