The Londoners celebrating Hackney's iconic Ridley Road in the face of gentrification
Wayne and Don are two individuals from Hackney hoping to commemorate the community they grew up in
With rapid gentrification in Hackney threatening to change the area forever, there are still those who wish to commemorate the area's history (Image: Terence, age 18)
Ridley Road is synonymous with everything Hackney has to offer - A diverse community, stories going back 50 years and the loud reggae music echoing through the street.
It is a place where families have gone shopping together, albeit sometimes reluctantly for the kids.
Since the 1880s, the market has been a staple in the Hackney community. Consisting of vendors and traders from Africa to Asia, Europe to the Caribbean, it has provided for many generations growing from 20 stalls to over 150.
But with the rapid gentrification that's hit this corner of East London, many fear the area could soon change forever.
A trader located in Ridley Road Market (Image: Hackney Council)
That is why the team at Future Hackney have decided to document the lives and the community in Ridley Road.
"There was a strong Caribbean influence in the 70s and 80s. Seeing the radical change in Dalston, I felt it was necessary to document the people," producer Don Travis stressed.
She and her co-producer Wayne Crichlow both grew up in Hackney and their love of the area inspired an incredible exhibition.
They are the team behind the images you'll see as you walk underneath Hackney Central Bridge or by the Red Cross Building on Dalston Lane.
Denis, I’m a Kingstonian, born in Jamaica. I came to this country in 1961, and stood by what my grandfather told me: “Stand up for liberty and defend those who are weak”.
Don said: "There is a strong sense of community here. We call ourselves producers, not owners, as to us, everybody owns the pieces.
"Ridley Road may not be how we know it for much longer."
Due to the drastic changes in the area, they wanted to share the stories of the people who actually live here.
Ngozi and Rosanna. Our support for women of African and Caribbean heritage relates to our histories here on this road (Image: Wayne Crichlow)
"We don't just take the photos and go," Don explained. "These people's stories are important.
"We actually let them join in, we co-author with the community. We don't do anything with the image until we let the person see it. There are ways of documenting people with them, not of them."
Wayne doesn't even like the term 'taking' photos. He sees it as they are "creating images" together.
Victoria Ryan in front of the wall of images
He added: "[It is] important to be their voice. In a way of a visual sense.
"I think people trust that we will tell their story truthfully, as we've lived in the community."
Having the photos on the street was a conscious decision by Wayne and Don to portray Hackney's diverse and inclusive community.
They wanted the images to be seen by the people they are documenting out on the street rather than in a gallery.
They were awarded funding by the National Lottery and Arts Council which is what led to the Dalston Lane exhibition.
Then, working with Create London, they were able to get commissioned to put their pieces at Hackney Central.
Their work was displayed at the start of Black History Month to tie in with Victoria Ryan's sculpture unveiling in honour of the Windrush Generation.
"We didn't want our work in expensive galleries or coffee shops," they said.
"We wanted it to be seen by the people we are documenting.. It's all about access and inclusive art."
As a borough, much of Hackney has changed but the market is still here serving visitors.
They want the pictures to evoke a feeling of emotion for people when they stop and look at them.
"When people look at these, I want them to feel the history, the different stories," Wayne told MyLondon. "These are a generation of people who have done something for the country. They have global stories, in a borough that has changed so much due to gentrification.
"It is important to tell their stories."
Wayne wants people to be "an invited guest into the world of that individual they are looking at".
As much as Hackney has changed, Future Hackney want to continue "being true to the people and telling the stories of Ridley Road. There are still stories to be told".
For many, Ridley Road isn't just a market but a part of their life.
You can see the portraits underneath Hackney Central Bridge.