Neither here nor there

Why do we feel the need to decorate the walls of our homes?
What sort of choices and decisions are involved as selections are made?
Influencing these preferences seems to be a mixture of so many factors such as our
culture, our age, our memories, our sense of identity or place and our need for visual stimulus and comfort. The ‘Neither here Nor There’ Series were taken in the homes of Albanian people who have experienced a fraught history, most of whom have no idea of how long they will be allowed to stay in this country. Many of the families foster minors who have arrived in this country alone. The photographs show evidence of distant recollections, a pride in culture, present likes, possible future aspirations and an acknowledgement of time. Rather than using the more conventional facial portrait, I chose to focus on the special objects that they have selected to reveal particular and personal
nuances that are the expressions of individuality. A small book was also made showing some of the thoughts, handwriting and translations of the people involved in the project. Thumbnails of the wall images were included with titles chosen by the individuals.