“London Villages Project”

The London Villages Project: Interpretations

In March 2011 over two hundred members of London Independent Photography signed up to The London Villages Project, a year-long exploration of London and personal interpretations of its locations, localities, neighbourhoods and communities. Most importantly it gave each photographer a free hand in arriving at an interpretation of ‘village’ which they could ‘carry’ with them throughout the year. The idea of ‘village’ is a contentious one and the idea of ‘London village’ disputable, vexed and, arguably, discredited. The LVP contested this and suggested that a group of photographers engaged in self and collective debate could arrive at fresh ways of interpreting perceived, constructed, evolved or emerging locales. The importance of collective support within the Project was crucial to its success and the network of support and opportunities for individual and collective discussion throughout the year allowed for a personal development that was central to assembling a year-long personal project. Virginia Khuri, a co-founder of LIP in 1987, described “the conviction that photographic images can mirror the personal experience and feelings of the photographer and that making them can be a means to personal growth, that what is deeply and personally true to an individual can be explored through a photographic participation in life.”

Three members of The London Villages Project will present their personal London Village Projects, describe the ways in which their understanding and interpretations emerged, reflect upon their engagement with ‘village’ and describe the route they each took to a final rendering.
The presenters are Cinnamon Heathcote-Drury, Michael Rodgers and Nick Scammell.
The session will be chaired by John Levett, Organizer of The London Villages Project and Visiting Fellow at Goldsmiths College.
An afterword will be provided by Johannes Rigal, Joint Organizer of Urban Photo Fest and Visiting Fellow at Goldsmiths College.

Click here for information on the London Villages Project.

The London Villages Project

10 October 2012 /  Room 3.26, New Academic Building, Goldsmiths, University of London / 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm / To book please contact: john.levett1@gmail.com