Iqra and Liam first worked with Breaking Barriers on What About Me?, a project bringing together young creatives across film, photography, production and music to explore the thoughts, feelings and lived experiences of young people in Salford. We were pleased to welcome Iqra as Assistant Photographer and Liam as an Assistant Producer.
Through this experience, they built a strong working relationship and began to recognise how their individual creative strengths could complement one another.
The pair will soon launch Desi United, Iqra’s first solo exhibition that Liam helped produce.
Desi United is a photography series exploring identity, representation and women’s sport through a South Asian lens. The work is inspired by Iqra’s personal and cultural connections to football, including her families’ support for Manchester United and the lasting cultural influence of Bend It Like Beckham. The project reimagines the story of Jess Bhamra for a new generation, centring South Asian women’s experiences in sport and creative storytelling.
The project began during Ramadan, when Iqra revisited Bend It Like Beckham while navigating a period of creative uncertainty after graduating. Noticing a lack of contemporary reinterpretations of the film, she shared her idea online, which quickly brought together a group of women who connected with the story and wanted to take part. Using borrowed Manchester United shirts from her father as nostalgic symbols, the series developed into a collaborative body of work rooted in shared experience, cultural identity and pride.
The project has already received recognition from Bend It Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha, who commented: “Well done! Bang on in the spirit of my movie!”
Reflecting on her experience with Breaking Barriers, Iqra shared:
“I had the pleasure of working with Breaking Barriers as a photography assistant on What About Me? It was rewarding and fulfilling to participate on a project which had a strong impact on audiences in Salford. I gained new skills working with younger people and confidence to work in a creative team. I am fortunate to be working with Breaking Barriers on my upcoming solo exhibition at Richard Street Studios. Parvez and Jodie have continually shown their support and encouragement, I will always cherish my experience of working with them.”
Liam also reflected on the impact of the project, saying:
“Not only was working with Breaking Barriers on What About Me? a great stride in my professional career, it also gave me the unique opportunity to collaborate with talented creatives within the Young Company. Throughout the project, Iqra and I worked closely together across youth centre photography shoots and a creative mixer delivered by the Young Company. Alongside What About Me?, we were both developing independent projects that interestingly centred around football, with Iqra’s Bend It Like Beckham-inspired series and my documentary The Pink & Blues, following a grassroots campus league football team. When Iqra shared her aspiration to take her series to a larger audience through a solo exhibition and asked me to produce it, I quickly said yes. Desi United will be hosted at Richard Street Studios, the same place where our professional relationship began during What About Me?, making it a full-circle moment for us.”
Desi United will be exhibited at Richard Street Studios in April to July, bringing together photography, storytelling and community collaboration in a shared creative space.
For more information or to book tickets, visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/desi-united-exhibit-tickets-1985792958194
Exhibition Location: Richard Street Studios, Rochdale, OL11 1DU
Take a look at Iqra’s work here.
Connect with Liam here.