about the project

 

“Minority” sacred spaces, whether institutionalised or individual, are often hidden away from the British public. For example, Hindu and Buddhist temples are often sequestered in non-descript buildings, and sometimes conceived as cultural associations, while folk religious groups and individuals operate out of homes and other makeshift places.

 

These spatial arrangements obscure the rich, multicultural character of the United Kingdom, disguising diasporic and spiritual heterogeneity in favour of secular norms. I propose to take a visual, sociological and geographical lens to these “unofficial sacred spaces”.

 

Making use of documentary photography and immersive 360 technology, I hope to do three things. One, to better conceptualise the social and spatial strategies of individuals and groups making such sacred spaces. Two, to develop a visual and digital record of the heritage of "minority" religious and spiritual movements in North England, and three, to showcase to the public the diversity of sacred landscapes in the United Kingdom.

 

In this project, I intend to photograph and observe spaces in which religious and/or spiritual activities take place or have taken place. These might be places of worship, or more informal settings where spirituality is practiced (e.g. tarot card readings).

 

I am focussing on photographing the setup and organisation of objects within a particular space, i.e. no individuals are involved in the photography. If you are interested in participating in this project, please contact me (Terence) at t.heng@liverpool.ac.uk or find out more on the Get Involved page on this website.

 

About the British Academy Mid-Career
Fellowship

 

This project is supported by the British Academy (BA) Mid-Career Fellowship. More information about the fellowship can be found here

 

A press release about this project can be found here