A story nobody else can tell

Photographer Sarah Ainslie captures the work of local women, making visible their community, care and services. From tradeswomen to community organisers, faith leaders, artists, and shopkeepers; the exhibition, commissioned by Oxford House, celebrates the many women who contribute to life in Bethnal Green. 

We talked to Sarah about her artistic practice, the importance of community projects, and a reunion 30 years in the making.

The exhibition of your work at Oxford House highlights the fantastic work of women, of all ages and backgrounds. Before we dig deeper, what kind of projects do you usually work on?

I recently ran a Photography and Philosophy course with RichMix on Bethnal Green Road. The group was made up of predominantly Bengali women, and the idea was for participants to go out and take pictures of what they found interesting. We’d then discuss their photographs on Zoom every week. They seemed to really like being in their own space. Sometimes it was difficult because they had whole families in the same room, or they joined the meeting on their phone, because that was the only thing they had. But it worked incredibly well – it built a really strong community. People were able to talk about what they were feeling because they were with their friends.

What is your background in photography?

I have predominantly been a theatre photographer. In 1999, I travelled with a theatre company to the performing arts festival in Grahamstown, South Africa. While on the trip, I photographed some of the local women I’d met. I came away thinking I really wanted to go back and take more, but thought I couldn’t do that without getting to know them. So I had an idea to give them disposable cameras to take pictures of daily life. They’d never used a camera before. They were just so excited. I went back 3 or 4 days later, and they had completely used up the film! The following year we had an exhibition of their photographs and my own, and we arranged their travel to come and see it. That’s what set me off on the whole idea of going into communities and taking pictures. How you collaborate with people is really important, and how that collaboration creates trust within people.

With this Oxford House exhibition, how did you find these women to take their photographs?

Some places were very difficult to get into, like TFL, the Fire Station, or the Post Office, but I was determined. One amazing story is that I approached Emma Street Post Office, and they gave me the number of a woman whose name seemed familiar but I couldn’t place. When we spoke, we realised I had taken her photograph 30 years ago for a similar project! It was such a moving experience. I didn’t think she would be there.

How did you direct the women you photographed?

If I can, I spend a bit of time with them and have a chat. Linda, who is featured in the exhibition, runs a schoolwear shop down the road, and I just walked in and chatted to her. With the lady at the laundrette, she was making tea and biscuits for some older people. So I asked when is a good time to photograph you, she said anytime, maybe now. I just did it there and then. It was really difficult to find a female electrician. I eventually found someone and literally turned up at this tiny bathroom she was working in, which is why it all feels really small. Cathy, the volunteer who is featured, was born in Bethnal Green, and was one of the first women I found. She went to school and college here, worked all her life here and now she volunteers. It’s round the corner from York Hall. Her whole life is bound up in Bethnal Green.

Has work for women changed in the last 30 years?

I think it has. I can’t find any women street sweepers, cleaners, dustbin-people now, whereas I found them in Hackney 30 years ago, which really surprised me. Maybe because women don’t want to do it, or maybe there’s more harassment? I don’t know really. It would be interesting to find out. There is definitely an increase in women setting things up on their own. Ruhela teaches sewing to groups, and she also has her own company making bags out of recycled clothes. There’s this group of women here run their own markets. There’s more women trying to do new things. And this is why arts programmes are really, really important. Whether it’s RichMix, Four Corners, Oxford House, it’s important to set up spaces that give people confidence. Every time we do these courses, the group becomes a little community, they share things together. That’s really important, especially for people living with mental health problems. Several of the people in my group have experienced a lot of abuse. One young person has ADHD, and he came in one day and said ‘I love doing this because I’m doing it with my hands!’ It’s the whole thing of actually doing something physical when you can’t necessarily use your mental skills.

“You have a story that nobody else can tell... Photography gives people dignity and highlights a shared humanity.”

What would you say Bethnal Green needs at the moment?

I wish there was a way for different communities to work together more, whether that’s through gardening, arts, or film projects. It empowers people. By empowerment, I mean it can improve how people live their lives and how they feel confident in themselves. I think Bethnal Green is hugely interesting, where people have migrated here over so many decades. When I first went to Brick Lane in the 1980s, it was like a theatre. People just setting up and selling clothes on the pavement.

Do you think women could benefit from more support for these kinds of projects?

Yes. The thing people forget about women photographers, is how difficult it is to have a child while continuing to go out and work. I found a really nice picture from the Hackney series 30 years ago – it was a photo of me sitting on the floor taking these pictures, and my daughter was sitting on the floor beside me. That was like a moment of ‘Yes of course I had to carry my child with me’… you’re just trying to juggle all these things. Now hopefully more men are doing some of this work.

What would you say is the most important thing for a photographer?

Sharing people’s stories - I see it as a responsibility. It was great to be able to photograph the other side of the world when I worked in South Africa, but there are stories closer to home. That’s one thing I tell students: you have a story that nobody else can tell. I can’t do that kind of work. Photography gives people dignity and highlights a shared humanity, and that’s not always easy to do. I suppose that goes back to who is being made visible and who is not. I feel really honoured to do this commission, because now people come in here and look at the photographs, and say, ‘oh I know that person!’ or ‘I recognise her!’.

Yes, I think I recognise Anita from my local Tesco’s!

Yes! Everybody goes up to her now and says hello. She was fantastic.

You can visit the free exhibition Women of Bethnal Green at Work at Oxford House until 31 March. Open Monday to Friday, 10am to 5:30pm.