A PHOTOGRAPH of a formerly homeless woman taken in Birmingham city centre has helped a photographer and academic clinch the Portrait of Britain Award.

The striking portrait image of Mauvette Reynolds, taken in the shadows of the iconic Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, is part of the body of work called Construct,  compiled by Anthony Luvera.

The project is centred around the lives and experiences of more than 50 people facing homelessness in the Second City. The photo has been acknowledged by the British Journal of Photography for its raw and real exploration of the lives of people facing homelessness  and continues Luvera’s rich history of producing socially engaged art.

Construct, ongoing since 2018, was commissioned by GRAIN Projects, an arts organisation dedicated to facilitating high-quality photography projects, in collaboration with SIFA Fireside, a charity that supports homeless people.

Construct made its debut exhibition in Snow Hill Square and Snow Hill train station in central Birmingham. Its photography is currently being showcased across the UK on digital screens in public spaces, including bus shelters, rail stations, shopping centres and Heathrow Airport.

Acclaim

Luvera, also a researcher at Coventry University’s Centre for Arts, Memory and Communities, has had his work exhibited in institutions and festivals around the world, receiving widespread acclaim for its impactful engagement with social issues that are often overlooked.

He said: “I have worked with people experiencing homelessness to address issues of housing justice for over two decades. I’m interested in working to enable people with lived experience to amplify their points of view about the systems and services that shape their everyday lives.  

“To see ‘The Assisted Self-Portrait of Mauvette Reynolds from Construct’ recognised by the British Journal of Photography through their Portrait of Britain award is a meaningful validation of the co-creation of this work with Mauvette and the many other people who have experienced homelessness that have participated in my work over the years.”  

The photographer immersed himself in the community, working alongside SIFA Fireside’s staff, participating in kitchen activities, and building relationships with homeless people for over a year before setting up photography workshops with over 50 participants to teach them how to use photography equipment.

They were then given cameras to capture their unique experiences and perspectives.  

Challenges

During the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, he continued the project through online workshops, post, telephone and email.  

He incorporated assisted self-portraits into the project, a process by which each person could choose where, when and how they appear in a photograph, working closely with people in meaningful locations to create powerful and personal imagery, including with Mauvette.

Now successfully rehoused, she reflected on her experience with SIFA Fireside and involvement with Luvera on Construct.

“I was living in a home with no gas, no electricity, no heating for five months and I fell very ill” she recalled.

“I woke up in a hospital after falling into a coma. And since then, I have been in and out of hostels, and I lived on the street for one and half years. My experience of being homeless has been so stressful. Being homeless is more than depressing, it drags you down. It’s like being stuck between two brick walls and there’s no way out.

“I have faced Isolation, discrimination, rejection, being labelled and stigmatised. It has been traumatising.

“I like photography and I always wanted to learn about photography. I also like having my photograph taken. I wanted to be a model when I was younger. I like discovering new things and I love writing about my photographs.

“Taking part in Anthony’s project, Construct, and making the assisted self-portrait with him has had a deep impact on me. It’s been therapeutic. It has been my dream come true. Because, I’ve always liked taking pictures and writing, and I have always wanted my pictures to be published, so people can see what I can do.”