For the series, the artist convened a small group of people who self-identified as ‘black, asian or minority ethnic’, and who were willing to speak about their personal experiences.

Group conversation has always played a significant role in the artist’s process. In Firrell’s own words: ‘I prefer to learn through other people, rather than reading or similar desk research. When you learn through others, there are always two distinct layers - the literal sharing of facts on the one hand, and on the other, understanding the relationship people have with those facts - the feeling that illuminates or shadows the objective truth.

The series was created to coincide with Black History Month in the UK. The series title is richly suggestive. Skin is the literal barrier between inside and outside. Skin holds and contains our personhood in a practical way. But it can also define our position in social hierarchies. Skin suggests the social connotations of skin colour and the evil of racism. It speaks to the phenomenon of colourism. It is a simple and powerful evocation of racial and social injustice.

But equally, diversity is not always reflected in obvious physical characteristics like skin colour.

reflects the feelings of one participant who is clear about the value of their Arabic heritage but wonders how other people relate to what is not an obvious physical difference.