Press release - Stands alone

“It’d be nice if there were more opportunities to foster a community”

(Sarah, Highbury Square resident)

Simone Novotny’s Stands Alone Photography project explores what community means for those living today in a newly built residential complex in North London. This project reveals the lives and stories of more than 55 people that now populate some of the 700 apartments located within the stands of a former football stadium. A letter was posted into the mailbox of each resident inviting them to open their doors to the photographer. From designers to lawyers, students to teachers, engineers to architects, everyone lives behind similar doors distinct from each other only by a number.

Simone and the participants of this project are actually neighbours. They live in Highbury Square, the former Arsenal Stadium. Together with Simone they each developed a series of portraits in which they defined how, when and where they wanted to be represented in their homes.

Through vivid portrayals of dozens of residents, Simone Novotny exposes the singularity of people that are usually treated as a mass: in the past as fans, more recently as privileged residents. In Simone Novotny’s project they are Kate, Maria, Sophie, Greg, Bill, David… individuals who share the hopes of building a sense of community though stand alone.

One of the participants said “This is a really interesting project and I’m glad the history of the area and people’s stories are being documented”.

The result of these intimate documentary pictures depicts not only the aesthetics of these new houses, but also reflects the thoughts and emotions of residents. It shows how in modern societies – even though physically living closer to each other – people, even willing, find difficult nowadays to maintain, create and re-create a sense of living together.

Notes to the Editors:

1. For further information or images contact Simone Novotny, on 44 78 1827 3561 or simone.novotny@eyesofchange.com; www.eyesofchange.com

2. Simone Novotny has a post-graduate in Photography at Central St. Martins, London and MSc in Development at the London School of Economics. She has worked for Amnesty International, Red Cross and Concern Worldwide. Used to depict the lives of communities elsewhere, Simone Novotny decided that was time to explore the lives of her own neighbours.

3. Highbury Stadium Square is a modern housing complex in North London with more than 700 flats. Highbury Square was constructed between 2006 and 2009 within the grounds of the former Arsenal stadium. In 2008 the stands became flats and the pitch a ‘communal’ garden. The last game at Highbury on 19 April 2006 (Arsenal x Villareal).