The aim of these images is to document the great community of The Block in Redfern, Sydney, Australia. A meeting place and home of great people and characters. I lived in Redfern for 5 years as my home before I relocated to London as a music photographer in 2005. Over the years many people have looked down on the area and been judgemental, without actually knowing any of the people that live there. So on a trip home in March 2011 I decided to spend some time there hanging, making friends and photographing. I wanted to help in some way to try and change the everyday persons perception of the area. So I thought I'd use the skills that I have as a photographer. I got permission from the Aboriginal Housing Company to cover one of the buildings that was run down, had broken windows and due for demolition. I covered part of the building with large photographic prints of happy faces from the community, making sure I photographed the Elders and the young and putting up people that represented the great spirit of the area . The idea was that passers by would see these huge smiling faces staring back at them, with the aim of making them smile and realise the area wasn't just buildings with broken windows. The buildings themselves became the community. The Aboriginal people own this land so I was attempting to give the area ownership with the people's faces. I didn't tell anyone apart from the people involved what I was doing as this project isn't about me. It's about the People of The Block one of my favourite places in Sydney. I look forward to doing more art projects down there.
Professor Colin James and Mr Phillips.
Two old mates down at The Block. Colin James is a Professor of Architecture at Sydney University has been friends with Mr Phillips for a long time. Mr Phillips was an Australian Champion boxer, boxing under the name of Dick Blair. Click here for a lil bit of info about his boxing career . His portrait makes up the first image on the side of the building I covered in photographs. He's a great man. I just wondered into his warehouse space and said g'day. He didn't know me from a bar of soap and said "D'ya wanna Cuppa?". We sat down chatted for ages about The Block his history growing up cutting cane (sugar cane) in his youth on the NSW QLD border and spoke a little about his boxing. He used to run the warehouse space as a youth centre and had many great memories of it being filled with kids having a great time. After hanging out a few times I managed to pursuade him to be involved in my lil art project
AJ from Queensland at the Elouera Mundine Gym. He recently started training at the Gym again after a while away
The Boom-Boom Room on Louis Street
Louis Street
Maree and Jeanine
This fella here is Denis another warm generous bloke. I sat down on this couch quite a few times just chatting watching the time go by. His son is Bear the fella in the photograph on the side the building with his always happy daughter Rosie
Denis
Denis, his wife, Bear and Rosie
Denis and Rob. Robs boys are also in one of the photographs on the side of the building
Below are photographs of Louis Street. The Boom Boom room was in one of these house's and a bunch of friends I made lived in them. They have since been demolished while I've been back in London. I'm heading back to Sydney Feb 2012. I'll get a chance to see some friends and catch up on whats happening down at The Block. The area is being redevolped by the Aboriginal Housing Company which is headed by Mick Mundine
