Picturing High Streets was a three-year project delivered by Photoworks to create a contemporary picture of England’s high streets through artist residencies and a public call out. It was part of the High Streets Heritage Action Zones Cultural Programme, and produced in partnership with GRAIN Projects, Impressions Gallery, Open Eye Gallery, London College of Communications, Photofusion, QUAD/FORMAT, Redeye, ReFramed and The Photographers’ Gallery.
From September 2022 to September 2023, people across England responded to themed fortnightly challenges and submitted their photographs on Instagram under the hashtag #PicturingHighStreets. All entries created an unofficial archive documenting a year in the life of the English high street on Instagram, and a selection form this permanent collection in the Historic England Archive.
The photographs in this set were selected to represent the theme ‘High Street Love’. The brief for this theme was: ‘To mark Valentine’s Day, we want to celebrate love! Show us the places you had your first date, tied the knot or marked an anniversary. If a picture speaks a thousand words, make it your love letter to the high street.’
The photographer wrote the following text to explain how their image relates to this theme: "Love around the corner aims to capture the essence of love in everyday life, specifically on the bustling streets, where unexpected moments of affection and connection between people unfold. It explores the power of love in fostering human connections and creating moments of joy and warmth amidst the chaos of urban life."
This is part of the Volume: HEC01/128/02/13 Picturing High Streets: Mass Participation Project - High Street Love; within the Sub Series: HEC01/128/02 Picturing High Streets: Mass Participation Project; within the Series: HEC01/128 Picturing High Streets; within the Collection: HEC01 Historic England
© Kajal Nemani
Photographer: Nemani, Kajal
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