Roxana Allison

Longsight/Shortsight (2019 - Ongoing)

Longsight / Shortsight is an ongoing photographic series giving exposure and recognition to the people and grass-roots organisations cultivating positive change in Longsight, a densely populated working-class multicultural inner-city neighbourhood in Southeast Manchester, UK. The series aims to encourage a better perception of Longsight and inspire viewers to realise that making a difference is possible. 

The pictures of the environment offer an insider's version of Longsight’s geography subtly uncovering some of its issues, whilst, in contrast, the formal portraits reveal the individuals cultivating positive change from within, showing the ethnic diversity of the area. Besides the imagery sits a narrative exposing socio-economic inequality, marginalisation of ethnic minority neighbourhoods, immigration, environmental issues and the mechanisms people develop to fight adversity.

The project's title derives from playing with the words Long-sightedness and Short-sightedness, in allusion to the name of the place in question. The medical meaning associated with malfunctions of the eye is the principle that leads to a more metaphorical understanding.

Longsight/Shortsight was presented as a week-long pop-up street show during the COVID-19 pandemic, taking place in September 2020 on one of Longsight’s busiest streets, making it safe and accessible to a wide range of audiences including residents, local authorities and outsiders. 

View the PDF of the project here.

Exhibition views