Palmy’s diversity on display
Portraits capture belonging experiences
Aline Frey’s portraits of 10 women from across the globe who have made Palmerston North home captures the diversity of the city. Almost all of us want to belong to a family, a community, a place, a country.
For some, belonging can be an effortless, automated feeling, but for others it can be a roller coaster of emotions, challenges and experiences. Belonging itself is a most beautiful feeling. A feeling to be home. Through her portraits, Frey captures the feeling of belonging.
Some of the photos are part of International Women’s Day #breakthebias, on display at Square Edge Arts Centre until April 4.
The many unique narratives and experiences of those who identify as women are showcased within this poignant, challenging, and celebratory exhibition.
Frey was inspired by her experience coming from Brazil.
She wanted to learn about other women’s experiences and how they compared to her own, and to find strategies to help others in the community feel connected.
The project gave the women an opportunity to feel proud of themselves and share what was important to them, their journey of finding Palmerston North their home and the shared experiences of belonging.
“I am the photographer and the inspiration behind this exhibition, but to create it involved a whole community.
“Without the extensive teamwork it wasn’t possible.”
Frey particularly wanted to focus on women as themselves; not just as mothers, or teachers, or daughters, but above all as themselves.
The portraits are of Olivia from Vietnam, Flavia from Brazil, Natsuko from Japan, Megan from Zimbabwe, Jaspreet from India, Marolyn from the United States, Eunice from Scotland, Lai Bar from Myanmar, Doris from Nigeria, and Poto from Samoa.
The stories and portraits are available on online heritage platform Manawatu¯ Heritage, preserving them for their grandchildren to learn about them, where they came from and how they learnt to belong in their new community.
The 10 portraits were on display at Central Library last month.
To see the portraits and read the stories go to manawatuheritage. pncc.govt.nz and search Aline Frey.