FRAGMENTS OF HOME: EASTERN EUROPEAN STORIES FROM NEWHAM (2023-25)

In 2023, Rosetta Arts, in collaboration with Centrala Gallery and World on Our Doorstep, commissioned me to engage with local communities in Newham—particularly Central and Eastern European members—to share ideas, draw from their heritage to design new activities, and discuss, in a safe space, the stresses they face today and the creative, cultural activities that could bring them joy.

On my own initiative, I have been walking around Newham, speaking with people in the streets about their experiences, visiting shops, cafés, and community centres, and asking what activities would improve their lives and what they would like to see more of. Along the way, I have met some incredible people and will continue documenting this area.

I was later invited to facilitate the Central and Eastern European Photography Club, a project I led with support from Elana Juzelenaite, a collaboration between Rosetta Arts, Centrala, and the Roma Support Group, and commissioned by Culture Within Newham with funding from Arts Council England. Over six months in 2024, we met regularly at Beckton Globe, exchanging stories and reflecting on identity, migration, personal journeys, and our connection to Newham. My intention was for each session to be shaped by the participants’ interests—some focused on photojournalism, others on nature photography, while some experimented with film, documentary-making, and integrating textiles into photographic work. The club evolved organically, guided by our discussions, allowing friendships to form, creative exploration to flourish, and collective learning to take place.

After the structured sessions ended, some participants continued meeting with me and Elana throughout autumn and winter to develop individual installations for the exhibition. Showcasing work by Renata Drusktye, Nesd, Ella Natalia Hopkins in collaboration with MIRIAM, Zoltan Varga, Elana Juzelenaite, and myself, we created the exhibition, which features photography, film, installation, and textile, highlighting the collaborations and collective narratives that emerged through this process.

The series of photographs I present in this exhibition documents my journeys to Beckton Globe, where I led the Central and Eastern European Photography Club. My aim was to support the development of each individual’s work and foster collaboration and growth within their works. Capturing everyday moments—visiting shops, cafés, community centres, and speaking to people in the streets—my images reflect the encounters that shaped this project.