Exhibition & Book: "I've Lived in East London for 86 ½ Years"

London-based photographer Martin Usborne met Joseph Markovitch, 86 ½, on an unusually hot day in Hoxton. 

He asked to take his photograph (in "the hope of winning some award") but that one meeting turned into a project that has resulted in a series of beautiful portraits of Markovitch. These are part of a new exhibition and also feature in a very special coffee table book.

Markovitch, who sadly passed away last year, was a life-long Londoner and eccentric who said he'd only once left the city, for a trip to the seaside with his mother. And he saw east London change dramatically (I like his tragic story about the local mayor "also a chimney sweep" falling off a ladder to his death as he put up decorations for the Queen's coronation in 1953).

The images juxtapose Markovitch and his memories with the startlingly modern, technicolour east London in which he remained his whole life. The results are beautiful, poignant and witty.

The exhibition also features 50 People of East London, wry illustrations from Adam Dant. On until 30 March at cafe/bar/gallery The Proud Archivist, 2-10 Hertford Road, London N1 5ET. Tel: 020 7749 6852. 
All images by Martin Usborne from his book, I've Lived in East London for 86 ½ Years, published by Hoxton Mini Press.