Homeless not Hopeless- Justin has been homeless for many years now but has only moved to Bristol recently, attempting to access more help for himself and his partner. They have been on the streets for eight years now. Although it is unclear whether they became homeless for the same reasons, it is certainly clear that they rely upon each other a great deal.
It was incredibly cold the morning I met them both and they were doing a lot of drinking to stay warm.
When I asked Justin how he survived, especially in the winter months, he gave me a smirk and replied, “I just do as I’m told.”
The image I have used for my portrait depicts Justin’s playful and unbroken spirit against all odds. I wanted this image to illuminate the small moments of hope between all the doom and gloom associated with being on the streets.
Justin was not prompted to grin at the camera, he simply revelled in the fact that he was noticed by another person.
I have used graphite powders, pencils and charcoal to create the tones in this image and have added cuttings of newspaper related to homelessness, supporting the narrative of Justin’s current situation and creating a juxtaposition between the difficult times and Justin’s resilient character.