Empire Day (2022)
The first Empire Day took place on 24th May 1902 to mark the birthday of Queen Victoria who had died a year earlier. It became an annual event for Britons, both at home and for those stationed abroad, to celebrate Britain’s colonial exploits across the globe – a quarter of the globe by 1920. The celebrations involved street parties and parades, cake, bunting, boozing, fireworks, chantings of Jerusalem, Rule Britannia and God Save the Queen, saluting flags, patriotic speeches and further promoting of British pomp and pride. Mothers dressed their boys in little military uniforms – signalling commitment to their glorious Empire.
Post WWII, as Britain’s grip on its subjects slipped, so did interest in the event. In 1958 it was re-branded as Commonwealth Day, which still takes place today on the second Monday of March across more than 50 countries.
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee marked 70 years of Queen Elizabeth II on the throne. An extended bank holiday weekend took place in her honour across Britain, 2nd-5th June 2022. I captured the celebrations in my home city, London. The series was shot using a medium-format film camera and printed in a traditional black and white darkroom. Each 16x20” print is made using out-of-date photographic paper and lith chemistry – which expires as the print develops in the solution, creating strong tonal shifts.
The series considers Britain’s bond with Empire today.
