‘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 Scottee, described in the exhibition guide as “Performance Artist, Roundhouse, Camden”
Each Londoner was asked to provide answers to four questions. These are the answers provided by Scottee: Question: “Where do you go to show people the real London?” Answer: “Queen’s Crescent is where I’d take someone to show them the real London. It’s ignored and it’s where I grew up. It’s where most of my formative decisions and opinions come from.” Question: “If you sent a postcard from London, what view would you choose?” Answer: “A postcard from London? Hands down it’d be the view from my Nan’s balcony. Just beyond is the Heath and for anyone from Queen’s Crescent is what you aspire to. We will not inherit it but we’ll inherit the memories of it.” Question: “If there was another Great Fire of London, what historic building or place would you save?” Answer: “I’d save the estate I grew up on from another Great Fire. So that people of the future can see what our government thought was acceptable for working class people to live in during the 90s. I’d also save it so that working class people have a building or a location that gives them a place of heritage.” Question: “What do you owe London?” Answer: “I owe London nothing. Absolutely nothing. London is mine and it’s shown me that I can no longer be here. It no longer belongs to me; it belongs to the rich.”
This is part of 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
Theatre, People Posed
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