Pastries, Brutalist architecture and interesting faces with Jenny Lewis
We ask the portrait photographer where she goes in London
Every now and again we like to ask people for their personal take on London. We get them to tell us the places in the city that they turn to for different reasons: the spots that excite them, inspire them, make them feel calm, happy or just make them want to spend money. We call it ‘Where do you go?’ and this week it’s the turn of photographer Jenny Lewis.
We mentioned Jenny’s new book in our last Weekend Roundup, since then we’ve got ourselves a copy and it’s a beautiful thing. In One Hundred Years Jenny shares portraits of her Hackney neighbours, going from zero years all the way up to 100 years old, each one accompanied by a small quote or story. Taken together it’s an incredibly rich record of a London neighbourhood (we’ve included some shots from the book below to give you an idea).
Also, when we were emailing Jenny about the Q&A, she told us this:
I’m putting an installation of 7 x 3 metre high prints up on the wall of a building on Regents Canal near the entrance to Victoria Park sometime in the next couple of weeks. It’s my love letter, to the borough... As the whole series is in a way.... Celebrating the community. The idea is bringing art / culture to people wherever they are wandering rather than expecting people to visit designated institutions and exhibitions.
Now that’s the kind of person we want to celebrate in this newsletter!
Update: it looks like the giant portraits are up and ready to see:
Win a copy of Jenny's book
We have a copy of One Hundred Years to give away to one subscriber. Just click the button below to enter and we’ll pick one person out the hat next week. You should buy a copy too though!
Who are you?
I’m an award winning portrait photographer whose main concerns have been visual story telling in my community. I often champion women’s voices and the underrepresented.
I’ve worked within my field both commercially and on personal projects for over twenty five years, successfully publishing three photographic monographs. My portraits are an authentic representation of my subjects in their own homes, workspaces or local environment developing a strong visual language and historical documentation of the way we live.
If you'd like to know more you can take a look here.
And why should we trust you?
You shouldn't really. Just trust your instinct and wander around, there’s treasure everywhere.
Where do you go to have a great time?
It’s kind of who you’re with really. Victoria Park Food Market on the weekend is great as everyone can choose want they want then you can meet up under a tree for a great picnic.
Even better if you managed to get to Columbia Road flower market before 2pm to treat yourself to some flowers.
Where do you go and always end up spending too much money?
You're going to regret asking me as I never spend any money. I’m happy to just wander and observe.
Saying that though there’s some brilliant bakeries around where I live. The Dusty Knuckle in Dalston and the Pavilion are a couple of my favourites and always worth popping in.
Where do you go that can never close down, because if it does you might cry?
The Curve Garden in Dalston which is constantly under threat. They do pizza evenings and have a little cafe. It’s just a local secret garden that’s been a sanctuary for years.
Where do you go to cheer yourself up?
My studio on the Regents Canal. Birds sing outside my window all day and there’s a bit of the dock you can sit on to have your lunch with the ducks and the geese.
I've always loved busting a real culture day and taking in a few exhibitions whether its a trip to The Tate or smaller galleries like TJ Boulting.
The Barbican is another favourite, whether its seeing an exhibition there or just basking in the Brutalist architecture, which I love.
Where do you go to be alone?
My studio or to London Fields lido, although there’s lots of people there, you’re alone when you get in your zone and that’s pretty special... Or you happen to hit a time when you get a lane to yourself.
Where do you go to impress someone?
I don't think I’ve ever gone somewhere to impress someone exactly. My kids were pretty impressed with My Neighbours the Dumplings when I took them there. It’s a real tasty dumpling restaurant which I can't wait to visit when it reopens.
Where do you go that's within walking distance of your house?
Kind of everything, but walking along the canal to the marshes is glorious, or a run to the Thames. Restaurants in Dalston and around London Fields. I'm looking forward to Earth reopening on Kingsland Road for some live music.
Where do you go when you can afford it?
I ask friends for a suggestion of a restaurant I’ve never been to so I can try something new. Craving Japanese at the moment.
Where do you go if you want to feel comfortable?
I feel comfortable all over East London, having walked these streets for years.
Where do you go if you want to switch off?
Again I'd probably say the Lido. Although I have been enjoying getting a train out to Chingford and getting lost in Epping Forest recently.
Where do you go to get inspired?
I’m inspired all the time. Being a portrait photographer faces inspire me and there’s never a lack of an interesting faces in London.
If you know of anyone that you think would make a good interview for our ‘Where do you go?’ series then let us know on Londoninbits@gmail.com.