Who keeps the peace?

What does peace look like?

Seven years ago this summer, the people of London watched in fear and horror as rioters flooded the streets, ransacking shops, attacking bystanders and setting fire to businesses. The image of Croydon’s House of Reeves blazing furiously against the night sky would become chilling front-page news, one of the lowest points of the dark days of the London riots in 2011.

Croydon has suffered from decades of negative publicity, regularly voted in the top 3 worst places to live in the UK and dismissed scathingly by its former celebrity residents, from Kirsty McColl (who ranked Croydon number 5 in the top 50 things she hated) to David Bowie (“I hated Croydon with a real vengeance”).

But if the riots dragged it further down, the aftermath has shown what a community can achieve when it works together to combat negative stereotypes, cynical viewpoints and dismissive judgements.

My new photography exhibition, hosted in association with the Croydon Festival of Peace, explores the local community, looking at how we support each other to encourage peace. It runs at the Museum of Croydon, Croydon Clocktower, Katherine St, Croydon CR9 1ET, from June 20 to 30 2018.

Peace for me can be small things as well as great actions. Often we think of peace as a grand gesture but it can also be the smallest of deeds. My exhibition looks at some of those people who are making this world a more peaceful place, answering the question, what does peace look like?

Organised into 4 main themes, the exhibition features ordinary people of Croydon doing extraordinary things, quietly and peacefully, to improve the lives of others and build a better future.

Peace is caring…
There are 33,000 carers in Croydon, one in eight of the total adult population of Croydon. Throughout the community these unsung heroes care for family members, neighbours, elderly relatives, disabled children, unpaid and often unacknowledged. Their unselfish actions, their care and kindness, makes a world of difference to the lives of so many, bringing peace, stability and love.

Peace is togetherness…
Peace empowers communities to build bridges and work towards equality, access and shared interests to build a richer environment. Croydon’s BME Forum is the umbrella organisation for the borough’s black and ethnic minority voluntary and community sector, engaging people, building capacity and promoting equality and cohesion.

Peace is creative…
Throughout the borough the works of artists touch and inspire people, through music, artworks, performance, dance, comedy and spoken and written words. Peace creates in many ways that break down barriers and unite disparate groups.

Peace is a path to the future…
Peace is building for the next generation, creating a powerfully positive force through love, shared endeavour and family – whatever and whoever ‘family’ means to you.

Peace is joyful, inspiring, uplifting and fun, it’s sharing a moment and enjoying being alive. Peace is open and embracing, kind and accepting. Peace is the contentment and freedom to find stillness in a chaotic world.

Peace is a community, doing good deeds and sharing talents to make life better, to make Croydon better, a happier, kinder place to live, work and play, a place full of hope for the future.

What does peace look like to you?

Share your thoughts, projects, photos, hopes and dreams using the hashtag #WhatPeaceLooksLike on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

About me
I am a photographer, videographer, digital engineer, musician and marketeer, with fingers, not only in many pies, but stretched over several sets of keyboards. London born and bred, I’ve lived in Croydon for many years and in recent times I’ve dedicated myself to photographing and documenting the borough’s events, gatherings, daily history and rapid pace of change. As a musician, I’ve toured Europe with MTV, shared a bill with Chaka Khan and played a whole range of local venues, from the London Astoria to Croydon’s Oval bar and Smoothbean café.

The photography exhibition Who Keeps the Peace? runs at the Museum of Croydon, Croydon Clocktower, Katherine St, Croydon CR9 1ET from June 20 to 30 2018