Identity is an extremely important concept for human beings as it dictates how we see ourselves both as a person and in relation to other people, ideas and nature. It allows us to express our individuality and our group affiliations and gives us a sense of who we are. Knowing who we are has a great influence on how we behave and how others will react to us. Throughout history, we have used many different ways of expressing our identity from hairstyles, clothing, make-up and gestures through to marks on our bodies including paint, tattoos, scars and piercings. Other aspects of identity such as language, race, ethnicity, religion and occupation are also powerful markers of cultural identity.

The theme of this competition seeks to inspire you to explore the concept of identity as a means to establish a sense of belonging. It asks you to examine how we, as individuals, show or illustrate who we are to the world and on the contrary how we may attempt to conceal our identity from those around us. What are the personal idiosyncrasies that separate one person from the next and make us unique?