We Are Singleton Portrait Of A Town

A two-year social documentary project, shaped by and dedicated to the people of Singleton.

Developed and photographed by Edwina Richards. Conceived and produced by Christopher Saunders.

We Are Singleton: Portrait of a Town is the second instalment of a long-term portrait project by photographer Edwina Richards, for exhibition in the Singleton Arts + Cultural Centre. This showing is the culmination of a 2 year collaborative social documentary project, which has been shaped by over 100 Singletonians including local photographers, subjects, researchers, and production assistants.

We Are Singleton is a carefully researched response to contemporary life in the town, drawing on a rich photographic history that fascinated the artist during her previous bicentennial contribution Well…You Haven’t Changed in 2020. Richards was amazed by the photographic archive to be explored in Singleton and sought to honour and pay homage to the town’s adventurous spirit, building on the past to track the community’s evolution.

Storytelling is a key element of Richards’ approach, and her portraits joyfully narrate the everyday lives of people connected by place. Each portrait has been photographed in a location which is important to the subject, reflecting their experience of life in Singleton. Richards has created a travelling studio to achieve this, bringing the white walls of the gallery outside in the rich tradition of ‘street studio’ photography. These images tell unique stories about Singleton – the place and the people.