Nur Aishah Kenton
b. 1998 Singapore-United Kingdom
Based in Melbourne (Australia)
‘I’m driven by the idea that photography can be a shared experience rather than a solitary act, creating a space where different voices come together, where personal and collective narratives intersect, and in which storytelling fosters deeper connections.
Home for a Time is about more than just the realities of share house living – it’s about human connection, resilience, and the creative ways people create a sense of home in uncertain circumstances. As housing becomes less affordable, many young Australians are finding themselves in share houses not just as a rite of passage, but as a long-term reality. Yet, despite the challenges, these spaces can foster deep bonds, support systems, and chosen families, especially for those who are marginalised and seeking community.
Through a collaborative process that includes the voices of those depicted, this project goes beyond just documenting their living spaces – it captures their hopes, fears, and the ways they navigate community and belonging. I want the audience to not only see these homes but to feel the connections within them, to recognise the importance of shared living as more than just necessity, but as a way of finding solidarity and meaning in an increasingly isolating world. I also want my audience to listen to more young voices – to understand their struggles, their resilience, and their perspectives on the future of housing, community and belonging.’
aishahkenton.com
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Images:
1-Nur Aishah Kenton, (l-r) William Bird, Maeve, Lia Ribeiro de Noronha, Myla Nicholas and Anna Jourdant sit in their Brisbane, Australia share house. Everyone in this shared household identifies as neurodivergent or queer, and finds their place a safe space in which to express themselves. Lia Ribeiro de Noronha writes over the photograph ‘I feel happy and safe to be me’, 2024, from the series Home for a Time © Nur Aishah Kenton, Lia Ribeiro de Noronha
2-Nur Aishah Kenton, Rhett Kleine (r) wrote over this photograph of a communal fire in the backyard of his share house, ‘The share house is a seedling in a field set to be sown’. As a young adult who first leaves home, share housing can be a place where you find yourself as a young adult, as well as your community, 2024, from the series Home for a Time © Nur Aishah Kenton, Rhett Kleine
3-Nur Aishah Kenton, Bella Porras and her partner Jack Greer photographed in their share house bedroom, Brisbane, Australia. Both are neurodivergent; they find solace in living in a community with other neurodivergent people, where they don’t have to explain their habits, and way of living. Bella writes ‘Uncertain times all round, their support is endless’, 2024, from the series Home for a Time © Nur Aishah Kenton, Bella Porras
4-Nur Aishah Kenton, ‘The share house experience, or just finding community, is so valuable to allowing yourself to be comfortable with who you are’ – Myla Nicholas, 2024, from the series Home for a Time © Nur Aishah Kenton, Myla Nicholas
5-Nur Aishah Kenton, During the process of making images for ‘Home for A Time’, some of the participating subjects were forced to vacate and move from their homes. Eviction has become a normalised experience for many young adults, with property owners and landlords free to increase rent amounts without restriction, something housing advocates are fighting to have changed by governments. Participant Sahara Bailey writes over the photograph ‘Property managers clearing us out’, from the series Home for a Time © Nur Aishah Kenton, Bella Porras
Bringing together 66 artists from across the world, Photo Elysée recently celebrated emerging talent with the exhibition Gen Z: Shaping a New Gaze. As media partner, 1000 Words is featuring the work and accompanying texts of all participating artists in our weekly column dedicated to new voices in contemporary photography.
