Press release is ready: Stands Alone exhibition at the Geffrye Museum

Stands Alone

Tuesday 16 April – Monday 26 August 2013

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

(Sarah, Highbury Square resident)

‘Stands Alone’ explores the community at Highbury Stadium Square, the residential complex located at the former Arsenal football stadium in North London.

Through vivid portrayals, photographer Simone Novotny reveals the lives and stories of the inhabitants of 30 of the 700 newly established homes.  She exposes the singularity of people that are usually treated as a mass: in the past as fans, more recently as privileged residents.  From designers to lawyers, students to teachers, engineers to architects, everyone lives behind similar front doors distinct from each other only by a number. They include Kate, Maria, Sophie, Greg, Bill, David… individuals who share the hopes of building a sense of community, though they stand alone.

Simone Novotny, whilst also a resident at Highbury Stadium Square, worked with each of the participants to develop a series of portraits in which they defined how, when and where they wanted to be represented in their homes. 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”.

These intimate documentary pictures depict not only the aesthetics of these new homes, but they also reflect the thoughts and emotions of residents. They are presented alongside audio and video testimony which illustrates how – even though physically living close to each other – it can be difficult to create and maintain a sense of community.

Notes to the Editors:

1)    For further information or images, or to arrange an interview with Simone Novotny, please contact Nancy Loader, Press Office at nloader@geffrye-museum.org.uk or on 020 7739 9893.

2)    Simone Novotny has a post-graduate degree in Photography from Central St. Martins, London and an MSc in Development at the London School of Economics. She has worked for Amnesty International, PhotoVoice, Red Cross, Save the Children and Concern Worldwide. Used to depicting the lives of communities elsewhere, in this project Simone Novotny decided that it was time to explore the lives of her own neighbours. For more information about the photographer and the project visit http://www.eyesofchange.com/standsalone/

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

4)    The Geffrye Museum explores the home from around 1600 to the present day, focusing on the living rooms of the urban middle classes in England, particularly London.  A sequence of period rooms illustrate how such homes have been used and furnished, reflecting changes in society and patterns of behaviour, as well as style, fashion and taste.