The London Transport Museum has created an evocative new photography exhibition to mark the 25th anniversary of the creation of Transport for London
A new photography exhibition entitled ‘Then and Now: London’s transport in photographs’ opened on Monday 23 June at the
London Transport Museum in Covent Garden to mark the 25th anniversary of the creation of Transport for London (TfL).
The new photographic display explores how public transport in London has evolved amid social change, and visitors will be able to compare scenes from the capital’s past with the present day, revealing the major influence transport infrastructure has had on the city’s development.
The exhibition features 40 evocative photographs, bringing together historical images from the Museum’s collection – some dating back to the 19th century – alongside newly commissioned contemporary images by photographer and TfL train driver Anne Maningas.
To mark the anniversary, the London Transport Museum commissioned Anne to document public transport in the city today. Her new images are responses to highlights from the Museum’s collection. As part of her collaboration with the museum, she was loaned a vintage Bronica medium format film camera from the 1990s – previously used by a photographer and curator at the museum, allowing her to use traditional film and mechanical cameras to create evocative images that reflect the rhythm of urban life.
Speaking about the exhibition, Anne said: “As someone who works within the transport network, it was a privilege to document it from a different angle. These photos are my way of showing the quiet beauty in the movement of the city. Being able to use analogue film for this project added a sense of continuity with our transport heritage, and it was especially meaningful to shoot with a vintage film camera once used by a London Transport Museum photographer.”
Head Curator at London Transport Museum Matt Brosna added: “Photography has played a vital role in documenting the lives of Londoners as they travel across the city and its transport workers as they keep our capital moving. Our striking archive images bring to life London’s rich history and transport past. That’s why we commissioned Anne Maningas to create a contemporary response to standout images from our historic collection. These images reveal not only how the city has changed, but also how transport continues to shape the lives of Londoners every day.” Emma Strain, Transport for London’s Customer Director commented: “Seeing how London’s transport network has developed from the past to where it is today, through this photography exhibition from one of our train drivers, is really impactful. Anne Maningas’ photographs help to show how integral transport is to the daily lives of Londoners and visitors and how transport services are continually improving. The transformation of London’s transport network since TfL formed 25 years ago is something we’re immensely proud of and we encourage everyone to visit the Transport Museum to see this fantastic exhibition.”
