In Conversation with Luc Hinson

Where are you are right now?

Hunkered down in lockdown, back with my family.

What are you working on/up to?

I just released ’National Treasures’ a fund-raising zine sharing the experiences of frontline NHS staff during the pandemic. We wanted to raise awareness of what life is really like for those caring for the nation right now, whilst also providing them a platform to express themselves and be heard.

Why do you do what you do?

I do what I do because it gives me the opportunity to listen and learn about the lived experiences of real people, with vastly different opinions and experiences to my own. It’s a way for me to constantly be challenging my own ‘bubble’ whilst getting to craft stories and shed light on marginalised voices and communities.

What’s the best job decision you ever made?

To make the decision to go freelance at 24 years old. It’s allowed me to learn and grow from project to project and gain a level of exposure I would never have received by staying put in one organisation.

What are your daily work habits, and have these changed during the virus?

Daily work habits have definitely taken a hit during lockdown, productivity grinds to a halt and it’s hard to stay motivated. My day now revolves around zooms, coffee and getting out for some fresh air at least two times a day.

What has the current situation with coronavirus made you realise?

It’s definitely made me realise just how much can be achieved from the comfort of home. Daily commutes of upwards of an hour now seem almost obsolete, it will be interesting to see how the world of work adjusts post-covid.

What have you missed more than anything?

Human interaction. Being able to just sit down and pick someone’s brains, or just catch up. Whilst a lot can be achieved from home there’s that important social side of life that’s missing at the moment for me, and no amount of zoom calls and quizzes can plug that void.

What are you most excited about right now?

I’m excited at the amount of optimism there is in the world right now. There’s a feeling that, for one of the first times in my lifetime, change can be achieved through direct action, it’s palpable and I want to see how far it can go. I’m also itching to get back out there and find stories to explore and narratives to unpack for Issue 002 of Between Borders.

What’s the last picture you took on your phone?

A picture of some Top of The Pops graphics from the 1980s.

What habit or improvement are you working on?

I’m working on improving my own timekeeping and goal setting. I dedicate time at the start and end of each day and week to go through what I want to achieve, what I didn’t complete and where I can improve. With all this time on my hands it would seem a waste to not dedicate some of it to personal improvement and growth.

What cheers you up?

I guess, having conversation with people about their hopes for the future. It’s all hypothetical for now, but I feel like the post-covid era will be defined by optimism and a outpouring of creative expression. I’m hoping a ‘Summer of Love’ is on the horizon in 2021.

What cause are you passionate about?

It’s engrained into everything I do, but I’m passionate about identity. In particular, finding a way in which identity politics can be harnessed to highlight what we have in common rather than what divides us. I’m passionate about finding the human and sometimes mundane aspects of everyday life and holding them up as examples of what we have in common. Regardless of age, race, gender there are narratives out there that transcend demographics and can unite us as a people.

Who would you most like to share a meal with?

Spike Lee