Day 12: Melissa May Gardner

5 February 2020

What Is Your London?

For many, the idea of London conjures up postcard pictures: the London Eye, Buckingham Palace. However, these depictions of the capital that we’re used to seeing in the media, advertising and the press are outdated. That isn’t the reality for young people living here today. London is nothing without the people that live in it, and each individual has their own story to tell so the participants of Creativity Works: Visual Storytelling were briefed with showing the world what their version of London is, to let the world see their perspective.

This is Melissa's London...

All Under One Roof Raving

All Under One Roof Raving tells the story of London's 2019 youth culture through nightlife, with a sharp focus on inclusivity. Whilst the documentation of music culture is at the core of this project, Melissa Gardner is keen to champion marginalised music communities generally underrepresented by mainstream media.

Music is one of the strongest methods of showing individuality, political beliefs and ideas. Places where young Londoners go to listen to music together are where they go to express themselves. For many, it is a safe space-a world free from judgement and discrimination. Music is a universal language, when on a dance floor one is united regardless of who you are and where you come from. London prides itself on diversity, Gardner passionately believes it is what makes us great. There is no better place to testify this than through the city's club and music culture, as music is undeniably a reflection of society.

Gardner shows us a small slice of the hedonistic unification found on a London dance floor on any given weekend. With an intention to react against social-media’s filtered documentation of life, this series aims to show our city at 2 am through a totally non-sugar-coated lens.