Citizenship is not granted at birth unless a parent is Monegasque, but it can also be obtained by marriage, adoption, or naturalisation. However, naturalisation is ultimately decided by the ruling Sovereign Prince, Albert ll, and means joining a united and tightly knit community around the Sovereign Family. Out of hundreds of applications each year, only a dozen are accepted.
Because Monégasques are a minority, the Prince Government uniquely supports them, providing adequate housing based on their income, and hosting events that are an integral and exclusive part of the country’s social and cultural heritage. Since 1976, the study of Munegascu, Monaco’s native language, has been compulsory in public primary schools following its near extinction.
Although I was born and raised in the Principality of Monaco, I was not granted the nationality as my parents are not Monégasques. Saying where I am from has always been a difficult question to answer; I have no legitimate belonging to the country where I was born, I'm seen as a foreigner in my birth country as well as in my country of origin.
Through a series of environmental portraits, this project aims to illustrate the real Monegasque way of living along with underlining their identity.
