Invisible Britain: This Separated Isle

A diverse range of fascinating photographic portraits of people from across the UK.

This Separated Isle explores how concepts of ‘Britishness’ reveal an inclusive range of opinions and understandings about our national character. Based on the book Invisible Britain: This Separated Isle, the exhibition presents a diverse range of engaging photographic portraits of people from across the UK. Each portrait is accompanied with a poignant first person testimony that draws attention to each person’s story, placing them centre stage so that we can begin to understand their lives.

Curated by Paul Sng and featuring work by some of the UK’s leading photographers – Adeola Adeko, Alecsandra Dragoi, Alicia Bruce, Amara Eno, Andy Aitchison, Arpita Shah, Chris Leslie, Christine Lalla, Ciara Leeming, Faraz Pourreza-Jorshari, Fiona Yaron-Field, Gina Lundy, Ilisa Stack, Inès Elsa Dalal, Jim Mortram, Jenny Lewis, Joanne Coates, Kat Dlugosz, Kate Nolan, Kirsty Mackay, Kris Askey, Lisa Wormsley, Maisie Marshall, Marc Davenant, Margaret Mitchell, Marie Smith, Mario W. Ihieme, Mark Parham, Nicola Muirhead, Rhys Baker, Robert Law, Roland Ramanan, Sally Low and Yan Wang Preston.

Poet Benjamin Zephaniah says “We British folk are all over the place. We come from all over the place, we move all over the place, and our ideas are all over the place. Here are pictures and words, with a real sense of place.”

As the pandemic has made a seismic impact across the world, with rising levels of race hate crimes and cracks exposed by Brexit, what are the bitter divisions within British society? In the aftermath of Covid, and with questions over the breakup of the United Kingdom refusing to dissipate, how then do people across Britain choose to navigate the tensions in this divided land? The exhibition is a relevant examination of the relationship between identity and nationhood, and as such reveals not only what divides us, but also the ties that bind us together as a nation.

Paul Sng, curator says “I’m delighted to be working with Impressions Gallery to bring This Separated Isle to Bradford, a city where the stories and themes explored in the book will be both relevant and timely.”

Anne McNeill director of Impressions Gallery says “This Separated Isle is a significant and inclusive portrait of our times. These remarkable photographs are a record of our uncertain times, and as such present much needed perspective accounts on complexities of life in the UK today.”

Invisible Britain: This Separated Isle is produced by ffotogallery, Cardiff and Street Level Photoworks, Glasgow, curated by Paul Sng.

Curator

Paul Sng

Paul Sng is a biracial British Chinese filmmaker and writer based in Edinburgh, Scotland, whose work is driven by methodical research, creative storytelling and a collaborative approach that strives for inclusivity and diversity in people and projects. In 2015, Paul founded Velvet Joy Productions to explore the lives and work of individuals who have been neglected, marginalised or misrepresented in the arts and media. Paul’s documentaries have been broadcast on national television and screened internationally and include Sleaford Mods – Invisible Britain (2015), Dispossession: The Great Social Housing Swindle (2017), Social Housing, Social Cleansing (2018) and Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché (2021). (Image: © Alicia Bruce)

Virtual Exhibition

Explore Invisible Britain: This Separated Isle in this interactive virtual experience. Need some help? Watch our quick demo to discover all the features.

Quick demo

Book - Invisible Britain: This Separated Isle

With a foreword by Kit de Waal, this insightful book examines the relationship between identity and nationhood, revealing not only what divides us, but also the ties that bind us together as a nation. Edited by Paul Sng.

Available in person from our bookshop for the special exhibition price of £15, or online for RRP £20.