London Creatives: Polish Roots

About

A collection of portraits of Londoners with Polish roots that are prominent figures in London's creative world opens at the Museum of London on October 1st, 2009. London Creatives: Polish Roots, which is presented by the Polish Cultural Institute in partnership with the Museum of London, honours Londoners of Polish origins who, as leaders in their field, have actively played a part in London's vibrant cultural scene and asks how their Polish roots have shaped and affected their careers in London. An ever-growing collective of Polish creatives of all ages and backgrounds now play an important role in London's cultural scene, from film to fashion, music to architecture. The display includes portraits from a wide spectrum of backgrounds and artistic disciplines including Adam Ficek (musician and drummer with Babyshambles), Andrew Czezowski (co-founder of The Fridge and The Roxy), and Iwona Blazwick, (Director at London's Whitechapel Gallery) as well as Polish film directors, architects, artists, journalists, costume designers and poets. Accompanying the black & white portraits are video interviews with several of the subjects. The interviews give a rare insight into how it feels to be a Londoner with Polish heritage. The interviewees describe how they found their own identity in London and how the vibrancy and confidence of London has affected their characters and shaped their creative talents