The Windrush Story

THE WINDRUSH STORY

The Empire Windrush in 1954. Photograph: Hulton Getty

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jan/25/bank-holiday-celebrate-windrush-generation

                                         

                                 © Joseph Haywood Magee / Getty Images, 1956, West Indian Arrivals

http://www.burnedshoes.com/post/43513872763/josephhaywoodmagee

On 24^th May 1948 the Empire Windrush set off from Jamaica and arrived on June 22^nd 1948 at the Tilbury Harbour, Essex in London.  The cargo was four hundred and ninety Jamaicans from the West Indies, seeking a new life in Britain.  The fare was £28.00 and 10 shillings one way. 

The immigrants settled in areas like Kensington, Manchester, West Midlands and Birmingham, but accommodation was in short supply and many British nationals resented the influx of immigrants.  Many were turned away from lodgings, shared and were crammed into one room.  The sign  
    “SORRY NO COLOUREDS, NO IRISH, NO DOGS” was displayed on the doors.

West Indians faced extreme racism and race relations politically, culturally and socially was unstable.  John Richards who came over in the Wind rush Era said" They tell you it is the 'mother country', you're all welcome, you all British. When you come here you realize you're a foreigner and that's all there is to it” (Richard, J. 1948) 

The windrush photographs were taken in order to document and record for historical purposes, by government agencies and the world media.  These images are an important part of the British Empire and how the caribbean immigrant arrived via the windrush.  The windrush photographs are part of an important time in British history as it was document what was happening at the time.

The contents of the photos shows this brought with it an artistic period of caribbean poets, writers, musicians and artists.  A period of mass migration from the new commonwealth countries.  West Indians were the first group of non-white immigrants to settle in Britain after world war two.

Wedding Day March 13th 1965

My Mum and Dad came to England in October 1961 on the ship called the Surrenter, which docked in Southampton.

The journey lasted Ten days and the fare cost $365 Eastern Caribbean dollars.  My parents remember how cold and white it was, as they had never seen snow before or thick black fog.

My parents settled in East London, Hackney and accommodation was difficult as my mum had to share with all men as women were not allowed, she had to hide from the landlord.

Jobs were easy to find in the Transport Industry and the Hospitals, but the people were hostile and unfriendly and they experienced racism.  My Mum remembers Teddy boys causing trouble and picking fights on the streets, just because of the colour of your skin.  However it was not all bad there were some friendly people in London. 

References

BBC- History (2011) BBC- History in depth: Windrush -Arrivals. [Online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/modern/arrival_01.shtm (Accessed 270313)

BBC-Home (2008) Birmingham Your Community. [Online]. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/articles/2008/06/19/windrush_60th_anniversary_feature.shtml [Accessed 27/03/13]

Phillips, M., (2011) Windrush -The passengers. [Online]. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/modern/windrush_01.shtml (Accessed 27/03/13) 

http://mylens1.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/the-windrush-story.html

                                          

                         

The New Cross Fire

13 DEAD AND NOTHING SAID

New Cross Fire Victims



http://www.ligali.org/images/new_cross_fire_victims_400.jpg



Learning from the New Cross Fire 30 years on

http://www.ligali.org/images/newcross3.jpg





Some 20,000 people marched through central London on the Black People’s Day of Action in March 1981 (Pic: John Sturrock)

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/chimage.php?image=2011/2282/actionday.jpg

The 18^th January 1981 was a tragic day when 13 black young people died in a house fire at 493 New Cross road.  They were just 13 ordinary young people at Yvonne Ruddock birthday party,  a happy occasion for what was to be their last.  Many believed and suspected it was a racially motivated attack, but however an inquest concluded and returned an open verdict.

In the 1980s the black community faced a series of racist attacks in South London, such as fire bombings in nightclubs in New Cross and Deptford.  The community blamed the press and the police for the lack of investigation and sympathy for the victims.  This led to the press and politicians going against the local community.  The Sun reported negative images of The Black People Day of Action on Monday 2^nd of March in 1981 headlines read “The Day the Blacks Ran Riot in London”  The New Cross Fire (1981).

The black People Day of Action was the biggest mobilisation of black people ever in Britain, over 20,000 people marched from Fordham Park to Hyde Park carrying plaques and banners read ‘Thirteen dead and nothing said,’ Blood nah go run if justice no come’ and ‘No Police Cover-up. The New Cross Fire (1981)

The images of the victims of the New Cross Fire were taken to document what happened, a historical record.  Also as reminder for memory for the families and friends of the victims in order for them to be remembered, a visual record.

It is now 2013 and no one or persons have been brought to justice.  Its been over 20 years and no further investigation, no answers we are stilling waiting.  However on the same weekend  a number of white teenagers died in a fire at a disco in Ireland, which prompted an immediate response of condolence from Buckingham palace.  To the Black families of those who died in Deptford nothing, which added fire to the fuel that the police and the establishment regarded the deaths of the Black children as unimportant.  To Yvonne Ruddock and others you are important,  gone, but not forgotten.

New Cross Fire 1981 video WATCH & DIGEST

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG9ah0WCRt0



Now at 439 New cross Road is a smart terraced house, but a plaque has been placed on the building in remembrance of those who died.  It's an official recognition of the site where a tragedy occurred.

http://853blog.com/2011/01/18/the-new-cross-fire-30-years-on/

References

AfricansArise (2010) New Cross Fire: 1981. [Online] Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG9ah0WCRt0 (Accessed 21/03/13)

AfricansArise (2010) New Cross Fire: Black community Responds. [Online] Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7ASlNOnA_E (Accessd on 22/03/13)

Barling, K. (2007) BBC-Barling's London: New Cross Fire-a turning point?  [Online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/kurtbarling/2011/01/new_cross_fire_-_a_turning_poi.html (Accessed 21/03/13)

4WardEver Uk (2008) The New Cross Fire. [Online] Available at: http://4wardeveruk.org/cases/youth-cases-uk/miscarraiges-2/the-new-cross-fire/ (Accessed 12/03/13)

SuperXavier30 (2010) Bejamin Zephania 13 Dead wmv. [Online] Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Chm8TtUQp4 (Accessed 22/03/13)


http://mylens1.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/the-new-cross-fire_23.html

Gender Studies: Bettina Rheims

GENDER STUDIES BY BETTINA RHEIMS

Kael T. B. 1, Paris June 2011

http://www.welt.de/regionales/duesseldorf/article106235012/Das-dritte-Geschlecht-mal-Mann-mal-Frau.html 

 Edward V.111 paris , June 2011

http://blog.zeit.de/zeitmagazin/2012/04/20/bettina-rheims-im-nrw-forum/

I visited Hamilton’s a private gallery in central London, I was overwhelmed with a series of B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L portraits.  I had no idea what the exhibition was called or who the artist was.  The faces were perfect and visually attractive on the eye, but their bodies showed a darker side of the portraits, the body in the process of pain and transformation.

Bettina Rheims started her career as a model, journalist and gallery owner; in 1978 she became a photographer. She was born in France in 1952 and became a Photographer in 1978 and embarked upon photographic projects, which brings her closer to herself.  She says 'Being an artist means trying to figure out who you are through your work, drawing closer to what you are and what you don’t want to be-and closer to what you don’t want to go through.' (Rheims, B. 2103)   

Rhiems career has been exhibited worldwide in the public and private collections.  She has worked in the commercial world with leading brands like Chanel and Lancôme and also celebrities like Claudia schiffer and Kylie Minogue.

The Gender Studies project is about transsexuals, men and women changing physically, men to women, women to men and a third gender of dual identity.   The portraits are visually stunning in the facial area.  The prints are chromogenic prints mounted on an aluminium, very professional and it has a three dimensional feel, as if the image is coming out at you.

Overall this exhibition was an eye opener into the world of transsexuals, man or women or other, does it matter.  The answer to the question is controversial debate, however it moved me the beauty in the face, but the pain in the scars on the body made me feel uneasy and emotional.  The face portrays peace and happiness, but the body reveals torment and sadness, like beauty and the beast in one single image.

References

Carey, P. (2013) 'Bettina Rheims Gender Studies 'Review of Bettina Rheims by Paul Carey, Potomonitor. [Online] Available at: http://www.photomonitor.co.uk/2013/02/bettina-rheims-gender-studies/ (Accessed 07/03/13)

Limited, Art (2013) Bettina Rhiems Gender Studies. [Online] Available at: http://www.artlimited.net/news/en/7581980 (Accessed 07/03/13)

Hamilitons (2013) Gender Studies by Bettina Rheims. [leaflet obtained in Hamiltons art Gallery], 1 March 2013.


http://mylens1.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/gender-studies-bettina-rheims.html

Biography Juergen Teller

JUERGEN TELLER

Visited the ICA on Friday 1^st of March to see Juergen Teller exhibition Woo.  Juergen Teller is an important and successful Fashion Photographer and Artist in the commercial and Art world.  He uses famous celebrities in his images like Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss and Vivienne Westwood to pose in such a way which is nontraditional, emotional and thought provoking.  Teller images have a narrative and he has a distinctive style, which combines comedy, honesty and emotions.

The exhibition consisted of three rooms containing his project based and personal artistic work.  The first room contains an enormous triptych of the queen of fashion Vivienne Westward and a huge photo of Kurt Cobain hunched over his guitar.

My first impression, Woo indeed or more like WOO! WOO!, the huge triptych of Vivienne Westward in the nude was like a painters' palate bold and vibrant.  Ms Westwood in all her glory with her private parts hanging out for all to see, I moved swiftly on.

The second room was covered in a collage of all his magazine spreads, almost like a massive brainstorm room filled with images and text.

The Fox Reading Room was my favourite room, as the whole room covered with a majority of his images, which were Sexually Explicit, Outrageous, Striking, Shocking, Strange, Loud and too many male penises just hanging out ‘UNPRETTY!.  It reminds me of a song titled Unpretty by TLC.

The last room is a mixture of commercial and personal shots like the image of his daughter Lola is hung very close to his image for Marc Jacobs of Victoria Beckham.

Juergen Teller Photographs so many modern day icons in intimate positions, Juergen Teller commented "I'm just curious! I want to photograph my arse hole because I had never seen it before" (2013)

Many celebrities and the commercial art world would be interested in Juergen Teller work as it is what is happening now.  Its current and what the world demands celebrity culture, popular culture,  fame and fortune.

 Legs, Bags and Shoes

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/10/fashion/10TELLER.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

This image stood out to me as I have and love Marc Jacob perfume, I like the way Victoria Beckham feet are protruding out of the branded shopping bag by Marc Jacobs.  It’s interesting how he combines fashion with naked body parts and it works. I can now connect the face behind the brand name.

Juergen Tellers' book titled Pictures and Text is full of celebrities in unusual poses and the stories which accompany the images are full of wit and emotion.  My favourite image is the one of OJ Simpson and a blonde sitting at a table.  The text below the image explains the story behind the image, interesting and very funny I had to read it twice.  I leave you the viewer to make up your own mind.



'Only God knows': OJ Simpson

 



 http://www.lomography.com/magazine/news/2013/01/25/juergen-tellers-best-shots

References

Jeffrey, I. (1997) The Photo Book. London: Phaidon Press Limited.

lomography Magazine (2013) Jergan Tellers' Best Shots. [Online]. Available at: http://www.lomography.com/magazine/news/2013/01/25/juergen-tellers-best-shots (Accessed 03/03/13)

O'Hagan, S. (2003) 'Shooting up,' The Observer 6th April [Online]. Available at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2003/apr/06/features.magazine47 (Accessed 03/03/13)

Teller, J. (2012) Pictures and text. Germany: Steidl.


http://mylens1.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/juergan-teller.html

Jun Aln Self Protrait

JUN ALN

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/gallery/2013/jan/30/photography-art#/?picture=403239511&index=0

These image are titled Death Defying Photography by Ahn Jun

vectroave.com/...ahn-jun/death-defying-photography-by-ahn-...Share

WOW! WOW! WOW! I was blown away by the Self Portrait images of Jun Aln, I came across reading January issue of British Journal of Photography. Jun Alan is a Korean Photographer a new graduate in Art History and now studies Photography at the Pratt Institute, New York.

When I first looked at her images I thought to myself it’s too real to be unreal. Jun photographs herself on top of Architectural buildings leaning over or in motion, leaping. She examines the empty spaces, the void which surrounds us, but for her is ‘the present’. She sets her camera into Drive mode for every shoot and takes multiples of images. The selection process is complex as she is looking for an image which conveys that moment in time that we cannot perceive with the human eye. It is a moment that did exists, but we can't see. Jun Self Portrait project began with her feet, from the bottom up. This image makes me feel unbalanced as I suffer from vertigo.

Ahn Jun images most definitely have the extra WOW factor visually, they are bold, contemporary and soul provoking. She is as the BJP commented on one to watch, as a new a rising talent of the 21st century.

References

Bainbridge, S. 2013 'Ones to watch', British Journal of Photography, Volume 160 (issue no.7808) pp. 19-21.


Callil, C. , Carr, N., Davis, J., Haddon, M., Morrison, B., Parks, T., Rosen, M., Smith, Z., Winterson, J., Wolf., DR. M., Barzillai, DR. M., (2011) Stop what you're doing and read this. London: vintage.


Wakeley, T. (2013) 'Ahn Jun's Self Portraits are a high art', The Guardian, 30th January [Online]. Available at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2013/jan/30/ahn-jun-self-portraits-art (Accessed 24/02/13)



http://mylens1.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/jun-aln-self-protrait_6.htm