Newham to host David Bailey exhibition

Newham's Royal Docks is to host a major exhibition by photographer David Bailey.

Compressor House - which is next to the Royal Albert Docklands Light Railway station - is set to be the location for the retrospective. As a result of the event, flats to rent in Newham may become more desirable.

Entitled Bailey's East End, it will look back on 50 years' worth of pictures taken by the man, who used to live in the East End of London and still thinks of the area very fondly. As a gesture to residents in Newham, they will be able to get into the exhibition free of charge.

Bailey said: "London's East End is in my DNA and I'm thrilled to be able to return to my roots in Newham. The Olympics are helping to transform the borough and I'm delighted to be playing a special part in its transformation."

Mayor Sir Robin Wales said it is great news that Bailey's work will be on display in the area ahead of the Olympic Games, which are due to get underway on July 27th. Newham Council is working closely with arts organisation CREATE to make sure the event is a success.

Kim Bromley-Derry, chief executive of the local authority, stated having one of the "world's most famous photographers" display his work in the borough is brilliant. "The fact that he has chosen Newham to host this pivotal show underlines the transformation that is taking place here," she added.

The politician went on to note it will add to the post-Games cultural legacy the area is trying to foster. It is hoped the event will complement a range of improvements made to the Royal Docks, including the development of the London Pleasure Gardens in Silvertown Quays.

Bailey hopes the pictures that will be on display chart the changing social and physical landscape of the East End - a location he has been taking photos of since the 1960s.

Posted by Andy Britten

Published 30th May, 2012

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