HOPE. DESPAIR. MIRACLES. Roxana Allison.

Lauriston Gallery. 27 Jan 24 - 13 Apr 24

Roxana Allison’s photographic project ‘Hope. Despair. Miracles.’ came out of a firm intention to feel hopeful. The project acknowledges some of the grassroots organisations and individuals in Longsight, southeast Manchester; celebrating the agents of change genuinely transforming people’s lives in multi-cultural working-class neighbourhoods across the UK – reminding us to never judge a book, or a place, by its cover.

Longsight is rich in ethnic diversity, yet has sometimes unfairly been associated with its complex social issues. Allison’s singular, insightful visual narrative aims to show the area, which she now calls home, in a new light. Through action and the power of togetherness, the project demonstrates that people-led change is attainable. The images invite us to remain hopeful, finding beauty in the ordinary by shifting our focus onto the small wins. These wins, sometimes in the face of great odds, can seem like miracles.

“Fourteen years ago, I left Mexico, my motherland, to cross the ocean in search of my British identity, carrying with me a romanticised idea of the so-called ‘developed world.’ Manchester, my birthplace, is now my second home.” Roxana Allison (b. 1980) is an award-winning Mexican-British photographer whose work is strongly influenced by her mixed cultural upbringing. Through documentary photography and portraiture, she is particularly interested in working with underrepresented communities and revealing stories that often go unseen. Her projects engage with themes of place, home and community. Allison develops self-assigned slow-form projects and commissions, alongside working in higher education. She is one of the winning artists of The British Journal of Photography’s Portrait of Britain Award, Vol. 6.

Roxana’s gratitude goes out to all the participants and everyone involved directly and indirectly with the project, from the initial stages to its culmination in the publication and present exhibition. Special thank you to Matthew Prendergast from Castlefield Gallery, PhotoBoltonUni (The University of Bolton) and Hatter Editions

Curator: Michelle Keeling