My project on Third Culture Kids continues and I have had the opportunity to meet some wonderful people, including Liz (pictured here with her daughter), who has German and Flemish parents, grew up in Chad, married a Venezuelan and speaks French to her children.
The thing about living in a city like London is that there are endless examples of urban abject.
A couple of weeks ago I was given the opportunity to collaborate with The London Food Project. Lara Bell (founder of TLFP) and I spent the day at the home of an Armenian family in North West London. Sisters Vera and Gassia introduced us to Armenia’s culinary traditions as they prepared food for Easter celebrations.It was a wonderful way to spend the day.
Walking around town today I found myself mumbling and grumbling at the many examples of how urban design is a failure to society…and aesthetics. I figured taking photos of what I saw would help me deal with it and see things from a slightly removed position.
During my visits to the Occupy camps last week I had a few bizarre encounters and puzzling conversations. I spoke to a man who offered bizarre lucubrations on greed, jealousy and the way people wipe faeces from their faces (yes, you read that correctly). He had just broached the subject of genital hygiene when Rhys*, a leader of Occupy UBS, interrupted us. He must have sensed my confusion and impeding exasperation.
Despite his exhaustion (he had been up all night preparing a case against the occupiers’ eviction), Rhys helped me grasp the fundamental need for these worldwide occupations.
Simple truths, such as the fact that the bank bailouts could have paid for 1,500 new schools, are clear evidence of a need for change, and failing that, a need for protest.
Rhys, however, feels not enough of the activists are as informed as they should be on the issues at hand to be an asset to the movement. It is wonderful the disused UBS building can be used as a modern day agora, as well as providing shelter for people who need it, but he thinks managing a space occupied in part by runaways, vagrants and drifters is taking its toll on the movement’s momentum.
His disappointment extends to the St Paul’s camp, the reputation of which is being marred by allegations of severe substance abuse among occupiers. These camps are the public face of the movement and for it to have wider influence and, ultimately, success it must be seen to be in control.
Finally, Rhys thinks the movement in the UK has lost its momentum and is going to fade. For now. In 3-4 years’ time, he claims, when the economic situation worsens, the movement will resurface with renewed determination.
If you find yourself having doubts or questions about one of the biggest movements of the last few decades, then go visit an Occupy camp and strike up a conversation!
View the full set of photos here.
*Not his real name.
This morning I had intented to pay a visit to the occupied UBS building on London’s Sun Street. I am very much in two minds about certain aspects of the movement, so I felt I needed to see for myself what was happening in there and hopefully chat with the occupiers.
It turns out occupation needs days off, and today was one of them. Slightly disheartened, but still hopeful, I crossed a couple of streets and arrived at the Finsbury Sqaure camp, where a number of occupiers have set up tents. Some of them camp out there 24/7, others a few days a week. I met Graham, who initially mistook me for a volunteer who sometimes comes in to check on the occupiers’ health. He showed me around the camp, offered me a cup of tea and we chatted for a good while. Everyone I came across was very friendly and the whole camp was quite well organised, despite the lack of running water and electricity. Graham told me the occupiers who probably leave around Christmas time, when the weather would make it unbearable to camp there. Come springtime, however, they would return.
I am still unclear as to the short or long-term benefits and strategy of this particular occupy movement, however their friendliness, and self-sufficiency made me realise that there is no harm in having them there…if you’re in the area, drop by and Graham will make you a mean cup of tea.
The TCK project is under way. My first portrait is of Sohko (Japan/Canada/USA) in her flat in Rotherhithe.
If you are a TCK or know any who would like to participate, send me an email.
I’ve recently become involved in a project run by The Hackney Society called Love Local Landmarks. It aims to collect photographs of all the locally listed buildings in the borough of Hackney. Locally listed buildings were previously known as English Heritage Grade III sites. In the 1970s, however, this category of buildings was downgraded to locally listed status and handed over to local councils. Unfortunately, locally listed buildings are not protected and a few of the structures I was meant to photograph have already disappeared. The one below, which you will find on Pitfield Street, is one of my favourite buildings in the whole of East London.
