Tribute to East End from Melanie Manchot

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When the Mayor of Poplar organised a street party to celebrate the end of the First World War, he launched a long-lasting social tradition. This small, potent exhibition of archive photographs and film of jolly afternoons in East End streets, preserves that history without sentiment. Bunting and flags hanging between houses and tables laden with food create communal joy for people who had suffered. VE Day celebrations were particularly poignant for children (in fancy dress and school uniforms), many home from evacuation, and the shockingly few men in view remind of the terrible social damage.

Her own childhood street parties in 1980s Germanyinspired photographer and film-maker Melanie Manchot to research these images. She arranges small prints chronologically, from 1919 to the Royal wedding of 1981, and leads viewers through post-War parties and Royal Jubilees (1935 and 77) into the era of colour. Whatever is celebrated, every image is a reminder of how the parties reinforced a sense of community spirit. Importantly, they also hold significant personal details: a group of tired-looking women can’t conceal past sadness but mostly cautious smiles broaden with years of peace.

The exhibition is a tribute to the anonymous photographers who persuaded crowds to face the camera and smile as one. The photograph became part of the occasion, a pause in the party, unifying the group. Covering one wall, a huge blow-up image, shot along a receding street, draws today’s viewers into the scene, and on a TV monitor, a local woman reminisces while holding the same photograph. She could attract others to share their memories, part of Manchot’s plan to revive street parties. Today’s individualistic and demographically segregated communities could take note of the party-goer at the VE Day celebrations, whose anonymous, hand-written message on a photograph was an optimistic response in a world striving for harmony after war:"I felt very extremely happy — and hopeful."
Until 22 February (020 7522 7888, www.whitechapel.org).

Melanie Manchot: The Street
Whitechapel Gallery: The Shop
Toynbee Street, E1 7NE