ELIZA HATCH
ON PHOTOGRAPHY AND ACTIVISM
Interviewed and photographed by Arhantika Rebello
Eliza Hatch is a photographer, activist and founder of the photo campaign @cheerupluv, retelling individual accounts of sexual harassment, acting as a platform for those without public voice.
“When I initially started Cheer Up Luv, my main aim was just to raise awareness about sexual harassment, collect stories and educate others. But as the campaign started to grow, it became clear that it was about reclaiming stories, taking ownership of past experiences, by reframing trauma and giving the power back to the subject.”
Where did your journey with photography begin?
I have been taking photos all my life, and it’s been a hobby of mine for years, but only in a professional capacity since 2017. I was always the one in a social situation to bring out the unflattering 00’s digital camera, with the obnoxious flash, and embarrass all of my friends by taking endless photos. But I somehow never put two and two together and thought I could make a career out of it. I’m self-taught, and studied graphics & illustration at university, so I do get a sense of imposter syndrome from time to time.
It all began when I was given a point and shoot film camera for Christmas in 2016, and started taking portraits of my friends, and then, later on, subjects for my project Cheer Up Luv. From that point onwards, I started to learn more and grow as a photographer. The first time I got a commission I’m pretty sure I laughed out loud with surprise. Three years later, I still have to pinch myself every now and again.
What do you shoot on?
I pretty much always shoot on a Nikon N80 35mm Film SLR, which I’m very attached to, even though it’s held together with tape! But my Mamiya 645 Pro is my baby.
What inspires you and keeps you creative on the daily?
I’m lucky enough to be in a friendship group of creatives, so I'm constantly inspired by what my friends are doing, and it pushes me to work harder. It’s also hard not to be motivated by seeing what others are doing online, half of my job is on social media so I spend a lot of time on Instagram (unfortunately). But the upside to this is that you get a lot of visual stimulation, and opportunities to collaborate and support each other both online and offline.
What’s it like being a young creative in London today?
I find it very exciting. Pre- pandemic there was always an event or exhibition launch you could go to, so there’s never a dull moment. Amongst many other things, something I have missed this year has been going to private views, talk and panels with other creatives, and meeting other people in my field. However, I do think a change is overdue in how accessible the arts are. Whether you are an artist or not, you shouldn’t have to travel to or live in London to attend every event. One of the good things about the pandemic is that it has democratised the art world *slightly*, in that anyone can attend an artist talk, panel or exhibition, because they are all happening online. Don’t get me wrong, I love living in a big city, but it shouldn't be a necessity to be a successful artist.
Talk to us about Cheer Up Luv!
Cheer Up Luv is a photo campaign I began in January 2017, which retells accounts of sexual harassment. Contributors are photographed in locations related to their experience, and their stories are posted online via the Instagram account @cheerupluv .
I was first inspired to start the campaign, after a man said, “Cheer up love” to me in the street. It wasn’t the first time I’d heard that phrase, but it was the first time I reacted to it differently. Usually after being told that, ‘I’d look so much prettier if I smiled’ by a complete stranger, I would just brush it off and walk away, feeling annoyed. But this time it really stuck with me, so I started to question why. After this incident, I went to my friend’s house and told them about what happened, which then induced a full-scale sexual harassment story swapping session. It was only when cis straight men in the room interjected with their shock, disbelief and dismissal of our experiences, that I realised there was a huge lack of awareness surrounding the topic.
When I initially started Cheer Up Luv, my main aim was just to raise awareness about sexual harassment, collect stories and educate others. But as the campaign started to grow, it became clear that it was about reclaiming stories, taking ownership of past experiences, by reframing trauma and giving the power back to the subject.
Tell me a bit about the part you feel Cheer Up Luv plays in society today?
After the media storm of #MeToo, the conversation surrounding sexual harassment became quite sensationalised, with a lot of coverage taking away from the real issue. There was, and still is an incredible sense of solidarity with survivors, and people inspiring each other to speak out. But I also think the issue has become somewhat polarised for many people. I often hear men saying, “You can’t even flirt anymore” and “This is the death of chivalry” and lots of things along those lines. This is why I think the conversation surrounding sexual harassment is still worth having. It grabbed headlines three years ago, but now we need to normalise talking about it, and start challenging sigmas and dismantling common myths. There is still so much confusion surrounding what should be a very straight forward issue. So I wanted to create a space where we can have the conversations that still need having.
What does Cheer Up Luv look like today?
It’s been a really overwhelming experience to be honest. The project started as just something I was doing with my friends in London, and it has grown to encompass stories from all around the world. I have now travelled with the campaign to Mexico, Japan, The US, and partnered with the United Nations in 2018 for a mission to Sri Lanka. I could never have predicted the response it would get, and the wave of support from people sharing their own stories and finding solidarity with others. I launched the project just before the #MeToo movement, so it was really strange timing the way it all happened. My campaign rode the wave and momentum of that time, and it has become a supportive community that I can’t imagine not having in my life.
When did the Cheer Up Luv podcast begin, and how’s that going?
I started The Cheer Up Luv Podcast in lockdown, but I have wanted to create a podcast based on my Instagram series @cheerupluv for a long time. It seemed I needed the world to come to a complete standstill to get the push I needed to finally do it. I had to completely re-evaluate my working practice, so real-life shoots morphed into FaceTime shoots, and talks happened on Zoom. I’ve also been using the same formula for my project for three years, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to mix it up and start experimenting with different media. I wanted to explore other ways of storytelling, and translate the conversations I was having online, into a different arena, so starting a podcast seemed like the perfect place for that.
I also wanted to challenge how we navigate certain topics in our everyday lives. There are so many issues that become sensationalized in the media and then polarised by the public before we really get a chance to sit with them. This happened with #MeToo, and continues to happen with so many other issues like race, gender, politics and feminism. I wanted to create a space reflective of my online platform Cheer Up Luv, where we can openly discuss these issues and break them down in an informal and open way, whilst myth-busting and tackling stigmas that are normalised in our day to day lives.
Are you working on any other projects?
I’m currently working on a photo series in collaboration with UN Women UK and the grassroots organisation, Our Streets Now for the #16DaysofActivism. We are releasing a photo and story every day during the 16 days, of experiences of harassment at universities. It’s a campaign in collaboration with Our Streets Higher Education and Ambassador Program, focused on raising awareness about the harassment that happens on campus, which often marks the university experience for many students.
What advice do you have for young creatives trying to make it out there?
It’s an incredibly unstable and worrying time to be a creative at the moment, so I would just say to not give up hope or faith in your craft. And if you can get through this year, you can get through anything.
Also, don’t be too hard on yourself, it's such an unmotivating time to make literally anything, so if you are creatively stilted at the moment, it’s so important to know that you don’t have to be creating all the time to be ‘successful’. Being busy is not the same as being successful. It just wears you out. One of the biggest lessons I’ve had, is that my career is constantly changing and surprising me. I have always ended up doing something completely different than what I set out to do, which is scary at times, and means I'm always in the deep end, but it’s refreshing and has taught me not to be so rigid in the way I work. I think people have traditionally looked down on, or thought it was somehow less professional to have many slashes to your title or a multi-hyphenated job, but now I think it's actually a pretty admirable skill to have. You're a designer, broadcaster, painter and waitress? Great! The old model feels outdated.
