Gillian Wearing

Who can truly know what’s going on in someone else’s mind, how they perceive the world and what occupies their thoughts at any given moment? What would you reveal about yourself, if given the chance?

English photographer Gillian Wearing explores the difference between what a person is truly preoccupied with internally, what they voice, and how they present themselves in public. In the early 1990s, she randomly approached people in the streets and squares of London, asking them to spontaneously write a statement on a blank sheet of paper. She then photographed them holding their messages. Each person was free to choose what they wrote down and how they posed in front of the camera. 

Here, you can see ten of these photographs, selected from a collection of around 600 images. The pictorial composition remains the same throughout: a person holding up a handwritten piece of paper. This consistency allows us to experience the different personalities and life situations of the depicted individuals more vividly. Some reveal their vulnerability, some focus on the moment, and others reflect on politics or societal issues. These photographs remind us that every individual, regardless of their age, gender, skin colour or social background, has a unique, inimitable and unpredictable view of the world. Furthermore, we realise how our perceptions shift as we first take in the image of the person in the photograph and only then read their personal statements. Gillian Wearing’s work encourages us to reconsider these individuals, reflect on their identities and their stories, and recognise the importance of encountering one another without prejudice, while truly listening.