Sophie Green’s photobook Tangerine Dreams explores the kaleidoscope of British national identity

Sophie Green documents the culture on her doorstep; she’s fascinated by who – and what – makes British culture, and its “layered, joyful, and often quietly resistant” communities. Sophie’s new book, Tangerine Dreams, is the culmination of a decade of documentation, covering Aladura Spiritualist congregations, modified street car communities, marching bands, dance troupes, British cowboys, dog shows, horse racing fans, Peckham afro hair salons, and Irish dancers. In light of ongoing news surrounding British nationalism and flag-raising, Sophie’s work is particularly important in melting down exclusivity through understanding and empowerment. It goes without saying; Britain is a glimmering and chaotic kaleidoscope that deserves to be freed from cliche by taking a closer look at its building blocks.

In documenting these various pockets of British life, Tangerine Dreams seeks to “challenge the narrow cliches that have long defined British identity, narratives often centred on whiteness, middle and upper-class values, and limited cultural stereotypes”, Sophie shares. Sophie worked with design agency Colville-Walker in curating the photo book. Through the book, Sophie aims to “build a visual archive that reflects the complexities of British identity, and that values cultural diversity, representation, and shared humanity”. Through long-term documentation, Sophie’s portraits are a window into the collective memories of overlooked communities, dreams and lives already being realised without a lens to show them.

When it comes to format, Sophie opts for 35mm and medium film which gives her work an emotional tone – a style informed by her love for abstract painters the likes of Rachel Jones, Jadé Fadojutimi, and Marco Pariani. Sophie’s use of saturated colour can be attributed to this also: “Spending time with painting has challenged me to think differently about photography, how I use colour, shape, and composition to build feeling and narrative within an image,” Sophie says. Sophie captures a sense of motion, photographing community members in the midst of activity. Her colours of choice are loud, proud, and optimistic, mirroring the true vitality of the communities she documents. She continues: “This palette directly challenges the familiar image of Britain as grey and dreary, instead revealing something more dynamic and surprising even.”

In one portrait, two boys sit on a fairground ride in a composition saturated by warmth. In another, she captures the arena of car festivals – where “cars became symbols of masculinity and status”, Sophie says. As the photo book progresses , narratives of expansiveness take over; to draw attention to identities removed from dominant narratives, offering ones made of multitudes instead.