MyLondon: Photography, Law & Homelessness in London

Following last year’s collaboration between the charity Cafe Art and King’s College London’s ‘Hot Chocolate Society’, a new exhibition featuring photographs taken by people affected by homelessness was launched last night at The Dickson Poon School of Law.

The launch event included a special introduction to the exhibition with commentary from academics, Cafe Art affiliates and a member of the Law, Art and Culture Student Network, which the School has recently established. These speakers discussed the issue of homelessness in London, the importance of charities like Cafe Art, and the legal implications of this crisis.

MyLondon presents a series of photographs taken by the homeless as part of a creative process designed to aid their personal rehabilitation and a wider advocacy of the issue. Recent government figures show that more than 4,000 people a night have been sleeping rough on England’s streets, a 16% increase on last year.

MyLondon was also specially curated by law students taking part in the School’s Law, Art and Culture Programme. Texts written by students feature in the exhibition, offering interpretations of various photographs and discussing issues like property law, issues around public and private space, and what students of law might gain from a broader engagement with the visual arts.

Banksy's Dalmatian by Saffron Said

This project is part of the ongoing collaboration between Cafe Art and The Dickson Poon School of Law. Cafe Art is a social enterprise that strives to use art as a tool of empowerment for the homeless, helping to create artwork that is exhibited at local cafes, pop-up exhibitions, art markets and corporate events. Since 2016, the School has hosted work by Cafe Art members on the basement level of Somerset House East Wing.

Every year, Cafe Art run a photography competition, offering people affected by homelessness disposable cameras and introductory lessons to photography. The shots make up their annual MyLondon calendars which are sold to raise money for the charity’s work.

Of the partnership, Paul Ryan, one of the Directors of CafeArt said: 'The collaboration has been fantastic. The students have really thought about meanings from what they see in the photographs - what a creative approach to the issue of homelessness.

The relationship between Dickson Poon School of Law and Cafe Art is symbolic of what we are trying to do with the project - connecting people affected by homelessness with the wider community through art and photography. The connections with individuals helps everyone: the photographers gain experience and self esteem, and the community learns more about the issue of homelessness.'

For more information on Cafe Art please visit their website at www.cafeart.org.uk.

For members of the public and students who do not have access to the School, the exhibition is public by appointment. If you would like to visit the exhibition, or for more information on the Law, Art and Culture Programme, please contact Kieran McGrath (kieran.mcgrath@kcl.ac.uk).