If you haven’t made it to The Bindery yet, consider this your nudge.
By Surya Anthony
Left to right – Nitin Shikotra, Nitin Shikotra, Tomasso Zulian
If you haven’t made it to The Bindery yet, consider this your nudge. One week left, and 126 stories of Clerkenwell are hanging on the walls — each one different, each one telling a slice of life from our corner of London. Curated from a whopping 459 entries to this year’s Clerkenwell Community Photography Competition, the exhibition is a masterclass in variety.
The Barbican makes its expected appearance in the exhibition with all its sharp angles and brutalist grandeur; but this year, it’s not just about concrete. Multiple images showcase life within the walls: nights in the launderette; neighbours sunning themselves in the courtyards with books in hand; the quiet rhythm of a community thriving inside one of London’s most talked-about estates.
Smithfield Market also gets its due. Yes, the ornate ceilings are stunning, but what really shines are the shots of its pulse: the Christmas meat sale in full swing; trucks rolling in at dawn with hanging hogs on display; and a cowboy gone rogue. It’s Smithfield not as postcard, but as living, breathing workday theatre.
Left to right – Paul Shelley, Arthur Savile, Cedric D’Amico
Street life? Everywhere. The African Emancipation Day Ride in full monochromatic motion. The solemn beauty of the ‘Pope’ in the Madonna del Carmine procession. Justice protests framed in placards and determination. Everyday bustle in Exmouth Market, from Saturday shoppers to pub chatter. Clerkenwell captured in action, captured from a dozen different angles.
Clockwise from Top Right – Abby Wormleaton, Raphael Iruzun Martins, Vlad Lordche Lisa Price.
Walking through the gallery feels a bit like holding up a mirror to the neighbourhood. You see Clerkenwell as you know it, and then you see it afresh, through someone else’s eyes. It’s personal, communal, and quietly celebratory all at once. Your Clerkenwell might be here. Or you might discover one you’ve never noticed before.
But time is ticking. The show closes Thursday 25th September, and then the frames come down. That’s it – gone. So if you want to see Clerkenwell as told by 126 lenses (and maybe spot a cat or two), now’s your chance.
The winners were crowned at last week’s Awards Night, a brilliant evening that brought the whole community together to celebrate Clerkenwell through its many lenses. You can catch our full reflection on the competition in last week’s article, and if you want a glimpse of the atmosphere (and a peek at the proud winners), head over to our Instagram for photos from the night.
Clerkenwell’s walls are on the walls. Go see them before they disappear.
The exhibition is at The Bindery, 51-53 Hatton Garden, EC1N 8HN.
Opening times: Mon – Fri, 8am – 6pm.
