DISPOSABLE?

The 2012 Olympics in London drew people from around the world to the heart of this amazing city.  Among them were a handful of artists and photographers with a shared desire to hear the stories of those affected by homelessness. At a time when the media spotlight fixed firmly on the incredible achievements of the athletic elite, a few artists found a common curiosity to head into the shadows armed with a question; as the world turns up on their doorstep, how does the city look to those affected by homelessness? With this in our minds, photographers and artists from Pick a Pocket and Youth With a Mission met with London based photographer Adele Watts.  Our dreaming together led to single use cameras being given out across the city.

As the glow of the Olympics faded and those we worked with continued to take photographs, we were left with images that articulated a rare view on the city.  With a passion to see these voices evolve and grow, ‘Disposable?’ was born, with Adele Watts engaging members of the homeless community in photography through ongoing workshops alongside her regular practice.

Over a number of months Disposable’s most devoted members developed a photographic voice articulating a fascinating and important viewpoint on the world they see around them.

The work culminated in an exhibition at Four Corners Gallery in Bethnal Green and eventually featuring as a zine distributed across the UK in Uncertain States Art Journal. The work even travelled as far as Portugal featuring in an arts festival.