David Hoffman’s East End
David Hoffman undertook a significant body of photography documenting the East End in the seventies and eighties that I plan to publish this year as a book entitled, A PLACE TO LIVE, Endurance & Joy in Whitechapel, accompanied by a major photographic exhibition at House of Annetta in Spitalfields.
I believe David’s work is such an important social document, distinguished by its generous humanity and aesthetic flair, that I must publish a collected volume. I have a growing list of supporters for this project now, so if you share my appreciation of David’s photography and might consider supporting this endeavour, please drop me a line at spitalfieldslife@gmail.com
“I took these photographs thirty to forty years ago – they are all from the East End, mostly around Whitechapel and Spitalfields.
I was born in the East End, but my parents’ upward mobility whisked me out to suburbia and it was only in my twenties that I gravitated back to my roots. I was immediately entranced by the atmosphere of joy and dilapidation. It was the spirit of the people you see in these pictures that lifted my spirits and showed me the direction which my career has followed ever since.” – David Hoffman
Photographs copyright © David Hoffman
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Pictures that speak. Splendid.
For photography, you need a sense for the right detail and for the perfect moment — David Hoffman undoubtedly had both. Great photo moments.
Love & Peace
ACHIM
Mr. Hoffman, were you taking photographs at the July 1972 E.1 festiaval in Bigland street?
There was an exibition in August of that year in Whitechapel art gallery. Much to my surprise there was a large photo of myself and a friend dancing in ‘The Australian arms Cannon street
road. I was 23 my friend 27. I had long dark hair 5’10 wearing hotpants my friend bit shorter
blonde wearing a jacket that had badges all over it. I,ve searched for a very long time to track down a copy to show my children. I’d only gor married a few days before, got home very drunk
and my new husband was busy tearing up the wedding telegrams (no sense of humour some people)
If you could help me in my quest you would make an old lady very happy. If you were not there
maybe you can find out who was taking photos that day. many thanks Marian