Construct was created by Anthony Luvera between 2018 and 2022, in collaboration with people who have experienced homelessness in Birmingham.
Over four years, Luvera was embedded within the support services of SIFA Fireside, Birmingham’s main day centre for homeless and vulnerably housed adults. The artist began by working in the kitchen, preparing and serving meals, before inviting participants to explore photography through regular meetings and workshops. Over 50 people took part, using disposable cameras to document their experiences and cameraphones to share images. Throughout the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic, Luvera continued working with participants by online platforms, post, telephone, and email.
Participants were also invited to make a self-portrait for the artist’s ongoing series, Assisted Self-Portraits. To create an assisted self-portrait, Luvera meets each participant in locations that are significant to them, to teach the individual how to use digital medium format camera equipment with a tripod, handheld flash, cable shutter release, and laptop. The final portrait is selected by the participant.
Commissioned by GRAIN Projects, in partnership with SIFA Fireside.