I wish I were British

"I wish I were British" is a series of self-portraits investigating the relationship between personal identity and freedom of movement.

I moved to London with my partner five years ago. We were able to come and stay here thanks to our Italian passport. The UK seemed to offer good opportunities and we decided to invest our time, energy, and money in this country. Then Brexit happened.

This project is my own way of processing the experience of Brexit and the state of uncertainty that we, as EU migrants, find ourselves in. More broadly, "I wish I were British" is about the rights and privileges we are entitled to on the basis of our nationality. I looked at this from an artistic perspective and, for how impossible it is, I imagined that wearing a "British celebrity mask" could be enough to become a British citizen.

© Michela Carmazzi - "I wish I were Elizabeth in my kitchen" Self-portrait wearing a cardboard mask of Queen Elizabeth in my kitchen.
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"I wish I were Elizabeth in my kitchen" Self-portrait wearing a cardboard mask of Queen Elizabeth in my kitchen.

© Michela Carmazzi - "I wish I were Elizabeth in my bathroom" Self-portrait wearing a celebrity cardboard mask of Queen Elizabeth in my bathroom.
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"I wish I were Elizabeth in my bathroom" Self-portrait wearing a celebrity cardboard mask of Queen Elizabeth in my bathroom.

© Michela Carmazzi - "I wish you were William" Portrait of my partner wearing a cardboard mask of William.
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"I wish you were William" Portrait of my partner wearing a cardboard mask of William.

© Michela Carmazzi - "I wish you were Charles" Portrait of my partner wearing a cardboard mask of Prince Charles.
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"I wish you were Charles" Portrait of my partner wearing a cardboard mask of Prince Charles.

© Michela Carmazzi - "I wish I were Theresa having a shower" Self-portrait with a cardboard mask of Theresa May.
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"I wish I were Theresa having a shower" Self-portrait with a cardboard mask of Theresa May.

© Michela Carmazzi - Image from the I wish I were British photography project
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"I wish we were Camilla, Kate and Meghan" Self-portrait with friends wearing the celebrity cardboard masks of Camilla, Kate and Meghan.

© Michela Carmazzi - "I wish I were Theresa in the park" Self-portrait wearing a cardboard mask of Theresa May.
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"I wish I were Theresa in the park" Self-portrait wearing a cardboard mask of Theresa May.

© Michela Carmazzi - "I wish we were Charles and Camilla" Portrait of me and my partner wearing cardboard masks of Prince Charles and Camilla
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"I wish we were Charles and Camilla" Portrait of me and my partner wearing cardboard masks of Prince Charles and Camilla

© Michela Carmazzi - "I wish I were Kate" Self-portrait with a cardboard mask of Kate
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"I wish I were Kate" Self-portrait with a cardboard mask of Kate

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