Backgrounds, a public participation photographic project celebrating multicultural British identity in collaboration with Somerset House and Google Arts & Culture.

BACKGROUNDS was dedicated to the studio photographers of the past; Maganbhai Patel(Masterji) and Malick Sidibé who used the camera to tell the story of their subjects.

Like many studio photographers of the 1970’s, Masterji, based in Coventry documented the hopes, dreams and aspirations of the newly arrived migrants. These photos were sent back home, a proud record showing they had arrived safely and assimilated in a new land.

Running alongside Kaleidoscope exhibition, BACKGROUNDS was created to invite our audience to have their portrait taken and share their stories. The aim of the project was to explore our cultural heritage, new family units and celebrate the rich diversity of our cities.