Five Pounds
Five Pounds explores the everyday realities faced by refugees and asylum seekers in the UK, who must survive on just £5.84 per day. By juxtaposing the experiences of individuals spending £5 by choice with those restricted to it by circumstance, the project highlights the severe economic limitations and their profound impact on those seeking asylum.
Due to the practical challenges of directly working with refugees or asylum seekers, I adopted a “simulated experience” approach. I documented the lives of ordinary individuals in two distinct scenarios: one where £5 was a budgetary choice, and another where it represented the full means of daily survival. In the first scenario, I captured how individuals allocated their spending and shaped their day. In the second, I aimed to mirror the hardship experienced by asylum seekers, documenting the physical and emotional challenges that arise under such challenging constraints.
In both the photography and post-production stages, I deliberately avoided labelling the subjects as either “ordinary citizens” or “refugees and asylum seekers.” Instead, I used digital manipulation and integrated quotes from interviews to obscure identity and emphasize contrast. This visual strategy invites the audience to connect more deeply with the narrative and reflect on the broader human experience behind the numbers.
Rather than offering critique or placing blame, Five Pounds seeks to foster empathy and awareness. Through this work, I aim to initiate a dialogue around social responsibility, urging viewers to engage with the complexities and challenges faced by those navigating the UK asylum system.