I’m re-entering the stage of de-motivation again and I don’t like it. Overwhelmed with an abundance of content not just on my laptop but in my mind, of topics and projects I yearn to embark on, but my mind keeps telling me there’s no time to do. To live in London is to live a life of imaginary busyness. I don’t like it. A friend of mine who lives in Mexico city came to visit London and I decided to take her to the bridges, almost selfishly because I hadn’t been there since I had returned and I had missed the long walks, but to also demonstrate along the pilgrimage what Londoners tend to do to wind down. Surprisingly there wasn’t much going on. London’s bustling streets were met with silence that day. Having walked this route plenty of times I was almost-surprised to see the space once filled with people lounging around and taking in the skyline, almost empty with passersby speed walking to their next destination. Who has time anymore to stand still and take in the environment that lies before them these days, in the city that likes to sleep?
Taking up Space
I named this image “Taking up Space” because that is what the image depicts. An afro-Cuban woman rightfully taking up space on the concert-stage, doing her thing with the saxophone during her solo. I was at the afro-Cuban funk band Cimafunk concert in London in Summer of 2022, a concert that was rescheduled twice due to the pandemic. When it finally came to fruition, their debut single “Me Voy” had already existed in the ether. A chant for those familiar to afro-Cuban funk, they are now global stars, taking over stages across the world.
Cimafunk himself aside (or behind if you want to look into the background), what captivated my lenses for the majority of the performance were the two female saxaphonists belting out notes so sharp they could have cut you. Their stature, demeanour screamed “I own this space” and I absolutely loved it. Seeing black women thrive in spaces designed for us just made me feel even more empowered to just go for the things I’ve been too shy to do. Seeing them doing what they love and looking good whilst doing it, their outward appearance screaming confidence and humility reaffirmed that I too, can exude this attitude should I want to. An image like this I wish I had hung in my bedroom when I was young.
Reminiscing.
I remember this part of the day so vividly. We were on the other side of the street, following the crowd who were shuffling behind the float blasting a big tune on the sound system. We were elated, such that you noticed people climbing the top of a bus stop on the other side and wanted to join in. Me being me, I told you that you were crazy. You being you, went anyway. We ended up debating strategy with another breh we met at that moment about getting you up there, and lo and behold, all things were possible and your London status was certified 😂 A bittersweet memory, because it was also announced today that Notting Hill Carnival is cancelled this year - the first time in its 54-year history, due to COVID-19. It's so sad, but also necessary. In the meantime I'll be looking forward to the next one while reminiscing the hype of the last one.
London's East End.
We’re the city that paces with ease; anywhere we go, we stride with an intention to bounce, because in the midst of it all, you’d want to retreat after being consumed in the crowd for so long. I took this picture at Liverpool street station, London, at the height of the rush hour period. Something about seeing crowds of people making their way through the business of the city soothes me. There’s something vaguely calming about stepping outside of yourself, to observe the external, to watch time pass you by. In forgetting where I was I spent a good hour on this balcony snapping away, and watching people’s uniform movements with one thing in common in all: they were in a rush.