This week we unveiled Canon’s exciting new urban art exhibition at London’s Pop Brixton. This was part of a Europe-wide initiative that highlights the importance of photojournalism in storytelling.
The exhibition, part of our Wider Image campaign, champions photojournalists who play a vital role in our society. Subsequently, it featured images from award-winning photojournalist Paul Hackett, best known for capturing some of the UK’s most important breaking stories. Paul’s latest images capture the trials and tribulations of Grime artists. A genre that has been experiencing a massive break out period following Skepta’s Mercury Prize win last year. He worked with up-and-coming Grime artists from across East London, telling their individual, and sometimes unexpected, stories.
The final show in a series from seven award-winning European Reuters photojournalists, Paul’s powerful imagery was juxtaposed with Pop Brixton’s unique architecture. From its shipping containers to concrete arches and staircases. Some of the artists featured in Paul’s images were in attendance. The Collective and Slew Dem Crew came in full force. They were ready to spit bars and show the show’s attendees what Grime is all about. The crowd didn’t look like one for a Grime gig. However, they were hugely impressed.
The event earned coverage from photography, listings, regional and national outlets. It also generated broadcast coverage on London Live. On a personal note, this has been my first campaign with NB and I couldn’t have asked for a better project or team to work with. It was a fantastic learning experience. It gave me media, event and networking practice and helped me overcome my phobia of phone calls. Two days of pitching the media on the phone was the perfect therapy! After the excitement of this campaign, I can’t wait to get started on the next.