Urban Identities

These images examine the construction of urban identities throughout Los Santos, focusing on figures linked to distinct subcultures and communities, specifically “gang-affiliated” characters. Identified by markers such as clothing, gestures, posture, and location, these subjects are often situated in specific neighbourhoods that reinforce their visual and social coding. The images highlight how identity is quickly legible through repeated visual cues, producing recognisable yet simplified representations of community and belonging.

The work acknowledges Grand Theft Auto V’s risk of reproducing and reinforcing stereotypes. While the game employs exaggeration and satire, these representations can flatten complex identities into easily recognisable types. This reflects real-world dynamics in which media and social perception contribute to the construction and circulation of reductive identities. The series, therefore, critically considers how both virtual and physical environments rely on visual shorthand, questioning the implications of representing identity through repetition and stereotype.