Forced IDs
A book by research-based visual artist Lukas Birk, MUG SHOT explores photographs preserved in historic archives. Images captured at the instant of an arrest that, in this context, become objects of contemplation.
By Gaia Squarci. Visual Research by Lukas Birk.
Originally created for administrative purposes, the portraits reveal expressions that stretch from defiance to pride, fear, indifference. Each was taken at the precise moment when a person’s public identity collided with institutional authority. Although they were never meant to prompt reflection, every photograph carries a question, pushing viewers to imagine the stories behind it.
Lukas Birk calls these images “Forced IDs,” emphasizing that they may portray innocent people, victims of persecution, political opponents, camp inmates, or anyone who dared to resist the power of the moment. Individuals presented as “guilty until proven innocent.”
The book seems to invite readers to recognize how a supposedly neutral format can reflect and reinforce society’s prejudices and power structures.
The book MUG SHOT is published by Fraglich Publishing and available at the price of 25 Euro.
