Endurance & Joy in the East End: The Photography of David Hoffman

Curated by The Gentle Author | Designed by Friederike Huber

As a young photographer in 1973, Hoffman lived in a squat in Fieldgate Mansions. Over the next decade, he documented homelessness, racism and the rise of protest in startlingly intimate and compassionate pictures to compose a vital photographic testimony of resilience. Thanks to the courage and determination of the squatters who stopped the demolition, Fieldgate Mansions still stands to provide invaluable housing to families in Whitechapel today.

Committed to telling the stories and human history of the East End, The Gentle Author has been writing a daily blog about the culture of London for the past fifteen years, bringing to life the rich tapestry of voices and diverse characters who have inhabited the area.Inspired by the way in which David Hoffman’s superlative photography speaks vividly to our own times, The Gentle Author has curated an exhibition of his breathtaking photography of Whitechapel in the 1970s, to reveal how much the world has changed in the past half century, yet not changed enough.

“We are honoured to host this exhibition and celebrate David Hoffman’s work as a powerful storyteller of resilience and solidarity. This exhibition not only highlights his extraordinary contribution to photography but also invites all to engage in important conversations about social justice and community resilience,” shares Danielle Patten, Director of Creative Programmes and Collections at Museum of the Home.

“Characterised by a brilliant aesthetic flair, David Hoffman’s reportage photography of Whitechapel in the 70s speaks across half a century as compelling evidence of a community that came together to face the challenge of racism and a housing crisis.” – The Gentle Author

The exhibition coincides with the publication of David Hoffman’s monograph by Spitalfields Life Books, Endurance & Joy in the East End 1971–1987. It will be available to purchase from the 15 October in the Museum shop, open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-5pm.