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Humans of London

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Humans of London

A portrait of London through its people's portraits. One street portrait at a time.
© Started and now edited by Souleyman Messalti.

26/05/2016

For the past year, I have worked on portraying people using video instead of photography as I used to. I have worked on a project called Portraits of Hackney Wick - a project aiming to capture snapshots of the artists who make up the creative fabric of Hackney Wick and to explore its shifting character.

I've now put together an event to screen my films, but also to celebrate the local talent of the area. It's taking place this Sunday at Stour Space and should be a lot of fun. Come down for a day/evening of art stalls, film screenings and live music - and you and I can also get to meet and have a nice chat over a drink!

Tickets and info: http://bit.ly/1UNHqJV

18/08/2015

Hello! As I mentioned a couple of months ago, I slightly put photography aside to get into filmmaking - I've now started a new video project portraying the amazing artists of Hackney Wick and their work. Stay tuned - first video out soon! https://www.facebook.com/portraitsofhw?fref=ts

23/06/2015

"I was born in Kisumu, Kenya, in 1941. I came to the UK via India a few decades later. I've worked in Reliance Arcade the last 10 years or so, having moved to the Lambeth area some 20 years ago. Before that, I had a store on the Old Kent Road. If I had one piece of advice to young people, it would be to take care, listen to your parents and life will be okay! I don't follow music, or have a favourite song really, but I listen to religious chants & mantras. I'm Hindu, but also every religion... God is One, we are One."

Narrated and photographed by David Walby.

19/06/2015

"Not many people can say that they spend their day creating something new. Being at Chelsea School of Arts, I feel quite privileged to have the opportunity to make art, discuss art, and reflect on art. Art is important. It helps us to imagine the unimaginable. It tells us that we are not alone in our experience of joy or grief. But most people just see it like a trinket or a sassy-do."

"What's most important for someone when creating art?"

"To recognise how one wants to express what one feels - whether it is through a sculpture, a painting, a video, or anything else. Art is a like a communicative system and different forms of art, its languages. For me it is 'concrete poetry'. I choose letters, words and symbols as if they were paint, and put them together in a certain way to make an art work. "

Narrated and photographed by Chandni Kumar.

15/06/2015

"I don't have the kind of money one needs to go to college, or travel. But that shouldn't stop me from learning. That's what books are for. It takes me all around the world without moving an inch, teaches me lessons from other lives, but most importantly, keeps me sane.

I need £18 for my nightly stay at the shelter. I can manage that by doing odd jobs through the day. If you'd like to give me something, let that be a book, any book."

Which book are you reading now?

"The Ice Twins by S.K. Tremayne. Its full of suspense and very gripping. I got it on a bench at Kings Cross tube station with a sticker on it that said 'Take this book, read it, then leave it for someone else to enjoy'."

22/05/2015

"If you had the power to change something in your life, what would it be?"

"I would live it exactly the same way. My experiences made me who I am today. If you're always winning, you would be taking everything for granted and the day you lose, you're screwed! There needs to be a balance in life; you don't succeed everyday and you don't fail everyday either - you lose and then you win. You have to fall to learn how to get back up."

11/05/2015

"I have worked in this perfumery for 60 years! I love to see these lovely women come in and try on different perfumes, jewellery, and dresses on. They always ask for my opinion and I happily give them."

"What message would you like to give to all the women out there?"

"Laugh a lot, smile a lot more. A happy woman is the prettiest woman."

04/05/2015

"I love travelling - meet people belonging to different cultures, dance their dances, sing their songs, try their food, and open my mind to all that’s there around me! I believe the more you travel, the more you start seeing things differently. You realise there is so much more to know - about the world you live in, but more importantly about your own self."

"What has been your favourite moment in these travels?"

"When I felt lost in this new city, before I could even go looking for help, there came an angel who brought me back to light and made me feel that I was looked after. At that very moment I realised that the world has a lot of love to offer, if you are able to see it and believe in it."

29/04/2015

“I work as a security guard in a museum, but I still write. I send poems to my friends or whoever wants to read them. You know the job title doesn’t make you who you are; sometimes the saddest, most boring job can inspire you and boost your creativity.”

26/04/2015

"It was the day she came to see me off at the airport. The moment we were about to part ways, I felt something between hope, sadness, bliss and anxiety. I decided to come back and ask for her hand in marriage. Seeing her waving back at me slowly, I knew she'd also found her moment of love. We were married within 6 months."

"What's your most memorable moment with him?"

"I leave for work at 4 every morning, and he walks me to the bus stop EVERY SINGLE DAY."

20/04/2015

" I miss them when they're at school and I'm working. And sometimes it just gets plain hard. Like last night, I was juggling for exams and looking after my kids and my sister-in-law who's sick and pregnant. I've been told today at work that I'm being moved to a site quite far from home. Now this is adding to my challenge further."

She briefly pauses, makes a call home, and checks on her little one. Then she continues giving me the most infectious smile I've seen in a long time...

"But I know that I'm doing this for a good reason. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices now so you can enjoy a bit more later on. When I get home after a long and tiring day, and my kids smile at me and make jokes, and then we all play and have dinner together, it makes it all worth it and I know that I've made the right choice - being a working mum. I have a 2 and a 5 year old and they are my world and the best decisions I've ever made."

06/04/2015

As you may have noticed I haven't posted any new story/photo on Humans of London for a while. Things have been a bit hectic on my side and I haven't had enough time to keep up with it as much as I would have liked to.

I’ve been reflecting on how to improve the site for a while and I’ve decided to take more of an editorial role, and let new people do the photographing and interviews. I think it will add variety and allow the site to grow. So now it’s up to you - if you feel like talking and photographing strangers on the streets of London is something you could do, please do get in touch and we can discuss more details.

As for me, I won’t be completely absent from the project. I’m currently working on moving images that capture the passions, struggles and varied personalities of Londoners, and am excited to share these documentaries with you.

All best,
Souleyman

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