Rianna Norbert-David

The Newington Green/Mildmay area in Northeast London is a treasure of history and culture and has fast become a trendy hub in recent years. The regeneration of the area has resulted in the rise of living costs that has consequently left some of the local community feeling alien and pushed out. I grew up and still currently live in Newington Green so I have had first hand experience in the changes that are happening. The #forgetmenotproject was born out of a need to document my feelings about the transformation of my home in hope of keeping my memories alive. This has developed into a wider documentation of the people and places that make up Newington Green/Mildmay. I have explored the themes of disappearing communities and changing style through the mix of various surface pattern, print and stitch techniques. The use of both hard and soft materials, Over-layering and collaging is a very important aspect of this project-used to show the diversity that makes up the community as well as the many different sides to gentrification. Through this project I hope to give each person a voice by telling their story. This is an ode to them and myself. They and I shall not be forgotten.