This is a photo story both about the people of London and those who have migrated to England in the recent past, some illegally. It asks the viewer to question the prevailing narrative that this migration constitutes an ‘invasion’ by simply asking them to look around themselves on the streets of London, taking in a 360º view of their surroundings. The use of the word invasion is loaded with imagery, implying people arriving with hostile intentions in an unpleasant and unwanted way. Now look around you. What do you see? And how does that compare with the narrative? By inviting the viewer to consider these images we seek to challenge the prevailing view.
The photographs were made by Hamish Stewart, Sabrina Merolla, John Tolliday, Helen Wolstencroft, Steve Jones, Sabes Sugunasabesan, Haim Bresheeth-Žabner, Anthony Palmer, Rosanna Goodchild, Ted Kinsey, Mary Thompsons, Amanda Eatwell and Frankie McAllister, the majority of whom are members of London Independent Photography. Individual photographers nominated the London borough(s) they would cover and made their own decision as to when and where to capture their six images.
The views expressed and implied within this project are those of the artist and of the individual photographers involved, and not necessarily those of London Independent Photography or its membership.
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Michael adds – ‘I set out to see if I could create a video installation which examined one of the most difficult issues in the world today – the mass migration of people. I did not want to deprive those most directly affected of their agency in the images that were to be shown. So, in conversation with friends and family, I alighted upon the idea depicted in this video. It is based upon a simple premise. What do we see, think and feel when we look around ourselves?’