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THE APOSTATE PROJECT

We are creating a photographic artwork and each contributor has left a religion in which they experienced extreme levels of control. Religions including Scientology, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Evangelism, and Islam. Participants have also endured bullying, physical harm and homelessness. While their experiences are unique, they find common ground, marked by recurring themes of coercive control.

The term apostate is often used as a derogatory label, and those who leave their religions may face shame and persecution from both their biological and religious families. In a deliberate act of rebellion, the people collaborating on this photographic work are reclaiming the label, standing up to their oppressors, and asserting their resilience.

ON PHOTOGRAPHY

Writer and critic, Susan Sontag described the “predatory nature of taking a picture,” framing photography as a potentially exploitative act that reveals underlying power dynamics. These dynamics resonate deeply with the contributors’ own experiences of control. To ensure the process remains genuinely collaborative, it has been approached with care, substantial participant input, and a commitment to allowing each individual to determine how and where they wish to be photographed.

The body of work includes portraits, photographs of meaningful places and personal items, and images that signify acts of rebellion, such as tattoos and piercings that were previously forbidden. Some participants have also contributed textual elements.

COLLABORATION

The location and representation of each person have been decided mutually – many participants choose to be identified and all wish for their stories to be shared as an act of reclaiming agency. For those who prefer anonymity, their identities are protected, allowing them to contribute on their own terms.

STORY / MESSAGE / PURPOSE

The purpose of this photographic work is to share the voices of individuals affected by high-control religions, contributing to the conversation on the personal impact of leaving these groups.

Leaving a highly controlling religion is what brings everyone here together—it’s the overarching theme, but the true essence of this work lies in understanding coercive control.

WHY? (I am making this work)

I am a photographic artist and make long-form works. Through my art, I aim to forge connections and provoke thought, inviting viewers to reflect on the complexities of our shared human experience.

My reasons for making this work are very personal. My wife and I live in Northern Ireland, where we were deeply affected by the abortion laws. When we learned that our unborn baby had a fatal anomaly, abortion was illegal, and my wife was forced to carry the pregnancy until our baby died in utero at thirty-five weeks and three days, our baby girl Alenja, was delivered dead five days later. This law, rooted in religion, sparked my desire to understand the profound impact of organised religion on other people’s lives. The Apostate project is a way for me to explore and share these stories.

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