Bide /bʌɪd/
Verb Archaic• Lancashire Dialect
-
remain or stay somewhere.
There is an army barracks near where I grew up that is currently home to many Afghan families who have been resettled here in Lancashire. This series was created as a collaboration between myself and the participants to honour and celebrate Afghan culture. Each individual is dressed in traditional Afghan clothing typically worn at weddings and other significant celebrations. I chose to photograph them in locations that are unmistakably characteristic of Lancashire—or at least the wider North West—to create a meaningful visual dialogue between cultures. By placing Afghan cultural expressions within a familiar local landscape, I hope that the contrast evokes a sense of hope, joy, and shared recognition for both long-time Lancastrians and those who now call this place home.
I am deeply grateful to the women who participated in this project. Their willingness to be seen and to share a part of themselves was an act of quiet bravery.