Once such artist that describes his work as ‘socially engaged’ is that of Anthony Luvera. His work has been exhibited extensively in galleries and festivals around the UK. He works with marginalised communities by providing cameras so that the participants can produce the images themselves. They have the power over the image, what is seen and what is not. Luvera provides technician support on the camera use.
The project includes how these images were captured, utilising single use, disposable cameras, the final results are displayed in unconventional ways. These projects highlight the ethical issues, the imbalance of power between photographer and subject and in a large number of cases the tendency to objectify the ‘other’.
Luvera uses the Socially Engaged Practice to attempt to empower people to represent themselves, and to participate as equals in the process, to have a voice in the ways their lives are imaged and shared and with what kind of audience.
‘Luvera began creating Assisted Self-Portraits with people experiencing homelessness in 2002. He coined this title to reveal the collaborative nature of the work. The project has enabled Luvera to form positive relationships over time, empowering others by providing a voice through photography – alongside technical instruction and wider support. The term ‘Assisted Self-Portraits’ has become increasingly applied to this form of social-based practice.’
Bibliography
Websites
Accessed 21/06/2020
https://www.bjp-online.com/2020/02/anthony-luvera-homelessness/
Michele Usher 