Nine young people from Granton Youth took over Edinburgh’s billboards this week, seeing their bold self-portraits displayed on a giant scale for the first time. Following creative workshops inspired by the National Galleries of Scotland’s Catherine Opie: To Be Seen exhibition, exploring identity and self-expression, the group gathered to see their very own photographs displayed across the city.
This marked a proud moment for the young people whose voices and stories are now impossible to miss. Working with the National Galleries of Scotland and in partnership with BUILDHOLLYWOOD Scotland, their larger-than-life self-portraits have transformed public spaces across the city into a powerful celebration of youth, identity and visibility.
One of the world’s greatest living photographers, Opie’s exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy building in Edinburgh celebrates the LGBTQ+ community, telling stories of identity, family, love, belonging and community.
Featuring 80 striking portraits the exhibition places Opie’s powerful photographs alongside historic works from the national art collection, creating new narratives and challenging audiences to consider who is seen, celebrated and overlooked in art. With only one week left to see this inspiring exhibition, Catherine Opie: To Be Seen is open now until 1 November.
Taking inspiration from their own experience in the exhibition, the group from Granton Youth worked with artist Matthew Arthur Williams and supporting artist MV Brown, over six sessions to create their own photographs.
The workshops invited the young people to explore portraiture and identity through both analogue and digital photography. Working in a pop-up photography studio at the National Galleries Scotland: National, participants selected their own props and backdrops, made creative decisions about how they wanted to be represented, and considered how photography can communicate personal and collective stories.
The resulting artworks, brought together under the theme of what it means ‘to be seen’ offer a powerful and authentic reflection of the group’s experiences, personalities and perspectives.
The large-scale installations featuring their portraits are now displayed on BUILDHOLLYWOOD Scotland poster and billboard sites across the city, sharing their stories and photos.
You’ll find these inspiring self-portraits on billboards at sites including Wishaw Terrace, Dundee Street, London Road (Meadowbank), as well as posters featuring artworks across Edinburgh.
Beda Rose, a participant from Granton Youth, said: ‘It’s amazing seeing the billboards! I think the photos are really artistic and it’s not just photos of people doing nothing.
“It shows photos of people in a way that deserves to be shown.’
Holly Yeoman, Community Development Officer at the National Galleries of Scotland said: ‘It’s really important for young people’s voices to be heard and for them to be seen.
“We’re living in complex times, and to be able to use the Catherine Opie exhibition as an opportunity to bring young people of different ages and backgrounds together to discuss topics of identity, self-expression, friendship and family through creativity is meaningful.
“Now, these works are in the public, and will catch the attention of people who might not know anything about Catherine Opie, Granton Youth and the National Galleries of Scotland, these intriguing portraits invite people into the worlds of young people and what it truly means ‘to be seen.
“Catherine Opie has been really supportive of a project like this happening, as she knows how important it is to create space for sharing stories, creating connection, and the power of exploring this in through photography.”