‘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 Skye Gyngell, described in the exhibition guide as “Chef and Restaurateur, Spring, Somerset House”
Each Londoner was asked to provide answers to four questions. These are the answers provided by Skye Gyngell: Question: “Where do you go to show people the real London?” Answer: “A trip to Marylebone on a Sunday to see the farmers market and then breakfast at La Fromagerie is a good way to see the real London.” Question: “If you sent a postcard from London, what view would you choose?” Answer: “I’d choose The Westway as my postcard! The view driving into London, you see West London’s gems, Portobello market, the Trellick Tower and other examples of Brutalist architecture.” Question: “If there was another Great Fire of London, what historic building or place would you save?” Answer: “The whole of London is like driving through a monopoly board and it has a continuous story so I couldn’t pick just one part to save from another Great Fire.” Question: “What do you owe London?” Answer: “I owe so much to London. It shaped and defined me. I grew up here, had children here. It’s a massive part of my life.”
This is part of the Job: 2K/27194 'I Am London' Exhibition - Skye Gyngell, Chef And Restaurateur; 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
Restaurant, People Posed, People At Work