‘I am London’ was an exhibition curated in 2016 by Historic England. The description of the exhibition, as published in the accompanying guide, states that: “London’s historic buildings and places are as much a part of the city’s DNA as the people who live and work in it.
I am London is a celebration of the capital’s unique and complex identity; as much about its scientific endeavour, cutting edge art, performance and design, politics and campaigning, as its pubs, Pearly Kings and parks. It’s a snapshot of London in microcosm, told through its people and places.
60 Londoners, each with a different story to tell, have been photographed at a historic building or place that’s special to them. Each person’s unique London story is bound up in the place they have chosen, showing the city’s heritage is inspirational, provocative, frustrating, fun, familiar, humbling and home.
We want Londoners to be alive to their heritage, to ensure that, as London grows and changes, it keeps its essential character. From Soho to Brixton, from city to suburbs, London’s great old places keep on embracing generation after generation of Londoners — in turn, they light up our city with new ideas and fresh thinking. If we lose London’s fabric and character, we will lose something very precious.”
This image shows Bob & Roberta Smith, described in the exhibition guide as “Artist, William Morris Gallery, Walthamstow”
Each Londoner was asked to provide answers to four questions. These are the answers provided by Bob & Roberta Smith: Question: “Where do you go to show people the real London?” Answer: “Aldgate is the real London. There’s a collision of the London of the future — questionable in a way, lots of high rise buildings and then the old London of Brick Lane, Liverpool Street and Whitechapel with the Indian and Bangladeshi communities there.” Question: “If you sent a postcard from London, what view would you choose?” Answer: “I’d send a postcard of Kew Gardens. It’s a really magical space but it’s also a working scientific, botanical garden. You get this sense of real endeavour trying to discover what the world was like. That’s iconic of London in a weird way.” Question: “If there was another Great Fire of London, what historic building or place would you save?” Answer: “What Tate Modern has done for London has been great. It’s transformed London from a sometimes backward looking place, to somewhere that’s forward looking so I’d save that from another Great Fire.” Question: “What do you owe London?” Answer: “All Londoners have an appreciation that we have to rub along together. I’ve lived in other countries but London is really quite special. A celebration of humanity rather than focussing on differences, that’s what I owe this city.”
This is part of the Job: 2K/27177 'I Am London' Exhibition - Bob And Roberta Smith, Artist; within the Volume: VF000591 'I Am London' Exhibition; within the Series: HEC01/139 'I Am London' Exhibition; within the Collection: HEC01 Historic England
© Historic England Archive
Photographer: Redgrave, Christopher: Historic England
Museum, People Posed