Joshua Blackburn – Launderama: London’s Launderettes
In March 2018, Joshua Blackburn embarked on a project to photograph every launderette in London; from Pinner to Penge and Catford to the Isle of Dogs. Twelve months later, he had visited every one of the 462 launderettes in the Greater London postcode district.
The impact of this series lies in the portrait it creates not simply of a unique institution but of London itself. The photographs capture the individuality, aesthetics and humanity of London’s last remaining public laundries.
photo book by Hoxton Mini Press // limited edition prints // postcard set // project on instagram at coinop_london
Featured in an article in The Guardian, “London’s beautiful launderettes – in pictures”:
“I love launderettes. I love the smell of washing, the sound of the dryers and the punning names,” says Joshua Blackburn. The London-based photographer plans to immortalise every launderette in the capital: out of more than 300 he has, since the spring, shot 40. “I want the project to be a record of these amazing businesses at a time when they’re struggling to survive,” he explains. Across the UK, there are now fewer than 3,000 launderettes – down from 12,500 in 1970 – mainly because nearly 97% of households own a washing machine, compared to 65% then. “The colours, signs, machines, surfaces and geometry are impossible to resist,” says Blackburn. “I’ve explained to many owners why I want to photograph their premises and they look at me like I’m mad.” Launderettes, he adds, are a part of the community, like pubs and post offices. “But the social space they create is unique.”
