Photography that views Auckland through an unexpected lens

Photography exhibition views Auckland through an unexpected lens

Photographer Jonathan Lyon has partnered with the Auckland City Mission to teach homeless people photography skills. The results of this incredible work will be on display as part of This Is My Voice, an exhibition at Studio One in Ponsonby running from June 11 – June 20.

This Is My Voice features Lyon’s work as well as that of three photographers – the latter all individuals who have utilised the Mission’s homeless services at some point – and offers a glimpse at the world through their eyes.

“This Is My Voice seeks to provide a voice to those who are rarely heard,” says Lyon. “It’s about empowerment, esteem, story-telling and the democratisation of creativity from the perspective of homeless people.”

“It’s photography from a pavement-up perspective, from the point of view of a real person beyond the context they find themselves in. It’s their story, their voice,” he says.

The photography workshop, guided by Lyon on a voluntary basis, is part of the Auckland City Mission’s Homeless Activities Programme.

Auckland City Mission Homeless Community Service team leader, Wilf Holt, says the Mission’s Homeless Activities Programme is vital in providing a sense of community and purpose to people who are often left isolated on the margins of society.

“Mission Activities have grown in recent years to include photography, carving, pottery, fishing, gardening and more,” says Holt. “These activities help provide a sense of community for the homeless while making a difference to their sense of self-worth and identity.”

This Is My Voice opens on Thursday, June 11 at 6pm at Studio One, 1 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby.

ENDS

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