Tashiya de Mel

I’m driven by curiosity. The need to question, provoke and delve deeper. In a society where images are integral to our historical awareness and how we relate to aspects of our heritage, identity and culture, I am interested in understanding the role of images in shaping our collective memory. I explore the nature and possibilities of documentary image-making through my photographic practice dealing with themes of decolonisation, the climate crisis, and landscapes. My personal context acts as an essential trigger for much of my practice. As a South Asian woman living in Europe, I interpret visual culture through an intersectional lens, which allows me to tell stories that are often overlooked or underrepresented – such as those that interrogate colonial histories and confront imperial legacies. My background in digital media, advocacy, and environmental conservation inform my practice and the types of stories I tell, making me think about my audience, the impact of my work and how to effectively communicate my ideas to the public. A compelling image has the power to evoke emotion and provoke thought. It can challenge public and political perceptions and find new ways of forging connections with diverse disciplines such as art, history, culture and the environment. What moves me to be a visual storyteller is the ability to find ways of bridging these disciplines through different forms of media. I choose to work with the medium of photography as well as moving image, sound and performance in order to create narratives that are layered and nuanced. The actions that are part of my practice range from visual interventions in archival records, discursive writing and performance-based methods of engagement. By working with and through images I tell stories that are inclusive, reaches diverse audiences, and drives meaningful conversations with the potential to lead to durable change.