Indisposable Exhibition

INdisposable Edinburgh Exhibition

This month sees the opening of a new photographic exhibition exploring the lives of people from different communities.

INdisposable Edinburgh presents a surprising snapshot of life in Edinburgh seen through the eyes of 50 people. The exhibition aims to highlight the positive and negative issues of integration and marginalisation from the perspective of homelessness, mental health problems, ex-young offenders, faith groups and migration.

The exhibition is part of British Council’s Leap of Faith Together (LoFT) project which is based around the simple idea that designing and working as a team on a project allows individuals to find out about one another, breaking down barriers of ethnicity, faith, and other cultural and social divides.

We have put together a short selection of some of the photographs with their accompanying stories. (In some cases the stories have been shortened for display purposes).

INdisposable Edinburgh is on display at Ocean Terminal, Leith, Edinburgh until 5 April.

Iain Thom

Rose Street, Edinburgh

This is Rose Street Lane South near to where I work. Squeezed in between the busy pubs of Rose Street and the shops of Princes' Street this lane mocks picture perfect Edinburgh.

It is not an underbelly of Irvine Welsh but a street that reminds me of the real city. Shops need products, pubs need casks and those who work here need their fag breaks and banter to survive.

Nicola Bain

The Welcoming Lunch, Edinburgh

My photos were taken at the 'The Welcoming Lunch' which I attend most Wednesdays as a volunteer. These people are my friends and have given me hope through difficult times.

I will always be indebted to them for all their kindnesses. Every person in these photos is special and means so much to my everyday life. I am proud to be among such wonderful souls.

Leonard Ntagada

Statue, Princes Street, Edinburgh

It represents a part of Scottish history. It must have been someone who has achieved a great deal of things and people here identify with him and are proud of him.

The importance of it in my case is that if I see Scotland as a land for hope, then it is important to take interest in the values or things that have shaped the Scottish history.

Anna De Garis

West End of Edinburgh

The scene in the picture means a lot to Anna because it shows her doll in the foreground and the view from her living room window, which looks out over the west end of Edinburgh to Morrison Street and beyond.

Anna loves her doll and carries it, and a motley crew of other favourite toys, with her wherever she goes.

Denes Imre

Glencorse Reservoir, Pentlands

I arrived in Edinburgh from Hungary in October 2007. I could not speak any English when I first arrived but now I am able to speak to people and understand what is being said.

I work as a postman which means I have got to know Edinburgh very well. In my free time I like to get out of town and I particularly love the Pentlands. I often go fishing at Glencorse reservoir, which is where I took my photograph.

Karol Olszanski

Polish Shop, Edinburgh

Chinese have their China Town, and I have Polish Delicatessen. Cucumbers in brine, home made ‘pierogi’ and ‘bigos’, and meat is as good as it was in times of communism.

Polish products on shelves and typical, Polish décor always reminds me of my home country.