Album:
Exploring Identity Through Photography

Devised as an extra-curricular course, Album offers young people from sixth form and further education colleges the opportunity to explore their own creativity and understanding of photography. Over the past year students have worked with tutors, artists and mentors from Autograph and UAL to articulate what ‘identity’ means to them.

Based at London College of Communication, the students collaborated on assignments which introduced them to a range of photographic genres and techniques. Researching and taking inspiration from photography produced by culturally diverse artists and Autograph's collection, students were able to reference different artists and processes in the discussion, debate and appreciation of photography.

Tasked with considering themselves as both subject and photographer, the young artists could reflect on the power of image-making and examine representations of identity in their own work. The Album exhibition celebrates the students’ ambitious ideas as they create their own photographic narratives and find their place in contemporary practice.

“Album has been an amazing, inspiring project to work on, the students came to us full of fantastic ideas and it's been a privilege watching them develop these over the year into finished pieces while having lots of fun along the way.” - Lewis Bush, Album tutor

"Album is an exceptional project that gives young people the chance to work with art practitioners, academics, and curators. Over the course of the project, the young people get help in developing photographic skills, creative ideas, darkroom skills, through to an understanding of curating. Socially the project helps young people to build their confidence and express themselves creatively.

The project also gives young people an insight into the demands of what would be expected of them if they decide to go to university in the future. This year the students have been very committed, which is reflected in the work they have produced. The project is concluded with the young people having an exhibition in a prestigious gallery in Shoreditch" - Othello De'Souza Hartley, Album tutor.