Unto London: A Photographic Essay of Londons Street Performers

A collection of photographic images of London's street performers gathered and distilled over several years reveals a constantly inventive display of theatrical and acrobatic talent. Photographer Athol Rheeder cites Henri Cartier-Bresson and Elliot Erwitt as his primary muses, but his gift is his own effortlessly unique and distinctive style. He was drawn to photograph London's street performers over several years. To try to capture their bold creativity in the face of difficult circumstances drove him to something near obsession. The performers are captured in the environs that their predecessors have used for centuries; Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square and more recently the pavements of the South Bank. The views of London and its denizens penetrate the swift, superficial glimpses of the city as a modern theme park and tourist destination. Behind the masks and layers of make-up the photographer leaves the observer with a distinct impression of the lives of these street artists.