An exhibition of photographs taken by London prostitutes is currently running at the rather swish Baltic Restaurant in SE1. In an innovative attempt to give a voice to these vulnerable and marginalised women, stuck in the cycle of prostitution, drug addiction, abuse and homelessness, the U-TURN Project gave them cameras and basic photography skills so that they could document their lives.
Change the Picture is a partnership between the U-TURN Project and the excellent Photovoice. These women's stories are horrific and the pictures are bleak. We wonder what diners, pausing over their elegantly presented Schabowy pork escallops with mizeria and garlic mushrooms will make of this tableaux of London life on the streets.
The U-TURN Project's website is currently under redevelopment but we'll be keeping an eye on them as this and other projects working with this vulnerable and marginalised group of people take shape.
Change the Picture is exhibiting at Baltic Restaurant, Blackfriars Road, SE1 until the middle of August.