Description
OD Photo Prize 2025 | Judges Pick
Sarah Sullivan [b.1995] is a freelance photographer based in Berlin. In her documentary and artistic work, she combines personal perspectives with socially relevant questions. Her approach is multi-layered and explores how historical contexts, individual life realities, and collective memory shape contemporary identity and society.
Artist Statement | At first glance, St. Vincent and the Grenadines appears to be an independent island nation — yet the traces of colonialism remain unmistakable. As a former British colony, the country’s economic and social foundations were shaped by slavery and imperial rule. Since gaining independence in 1979, St. Vincent has been striving for cultural and political self-determination. Yet it remains formally tied to the British monarchy, and colonial power structures continue to influence many aspects of daily life — from the education system to the financial sector. For many young people, this means growing up in a society still entangled with its colonial past, while facing high unemployment, migration pressure, and limited opportunities for participation. This project focuses on the lives and perspectives of young people aged 18 to 30. It explores how they navigate identity, cultural heritage, and structural inequality — and how they envision their own futures. With a background rooted in family ties to the region, I approach this work through a combination of photography, interviews, and archival engagement. I am particularly interested in how this generation negotiates the contradictions between inherited colonial systems and contemporary realities, between pride in cultural roots and the practical need to move abroad. By documenting everyday life, conversations, and the quiet strength of young Vincentians, the project aims to offer a human-centered and nuanced perspective. It seeks to challenge simplistic postcolonial narratives and instead highlight the voices and visual presence of those who are too often overlooked. The work is guided by care, curiosity, and the belief that long-form storytelling can illuminate both struggle and resilience.
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