“is it a story about healthcare, or a story about people?”
it’s easy to take for granted what’s right in front of your nose. in our case, it’s the royal london hospital. open up the door of the whitechapel gift shop and you’ll literally run right into the walls that used to house one of the most inspiring people ever, joseph merrick (and hundreds more since in the form of their employees).
last night, victoria nightingale (now there’s a pertinent name in and of itself!) illuminated the royal london hospital further via ten beautifully realised portraits of a handful of people behind the miracles performed next door. between 7 and 9pm, the gallery thundered with the voices of people inquiring about the stories behind each of the portraits. additional texture (and warmth) to the evening was given as some of the photographed subjects arrived, sharing their stories in person.
but the highlight of the night came in the form of victoria’s realisation that her partnership with curator, claire quinn, resulted in a piece of work and an evening celebrating not just the lives of the people who sacrifice huge chunks of their own so that others can be healed, saved or enhanced, but also the art of photography, the craft of storytelling, and power of collaboration.
and with that, she burst into tears.
congratulations on a very special evening.
team toey gets it together
see you tomorrow!
