In August 2008, The Whitechapel Gallery commissioned Perrier to take part in ‘The Street — a year-long series of artists’ commissions on and around Wentworth Street.’ 

The commission involved a portable photographic studio on a market stall in Denning Point tower block as well as Petticoat Lane Market. Making use of a white Polaroid instant film, a headrest device, and a 5x4 inch large format camera, local residents, city workers, market traders and passers-by were invited by Perrier to pose for portraits. 

Perrier’s photography frequently explores notions of community and identity. Perrier comments, “This has come about through my family background. Being of Ghanaian and Dominican descent, I have been presented with questions about placement, cultural identity and diversity.”

Perrier’s portraits celebrate individuality within the framework of often coincidental common ground. Full of empathy, they probe into the ways we construct public and private identities, or how others construct them for us.

This project is part of The Street — a year-long series of artists’ commissions on and around Wentworth Street.

Perrier has recently exhibited this commissioned project at the Whitechapel Gallery.

Image Credit: Eileen Perrier.