In a quest to explore how heritage shapes identity and belonging, Markes has turned his lens on the often-overlooked sights and sounds of England’s folklore, shining a light on the unique, mysterious traditions that connect communities to their past.
For Markes, the inspiration for We Come One developed gradually. His previous project, After All We’ve Been Through, We Really Needed This, documented the return of music festivals after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Markes captured the joy of people reconnecting, which sparked a curiosity about community and belonging that led him to the folkloric scene. “For We Come One, I wanted to further my exploration of how people connect,” Markes explains, “but set the project within a scene I knew nothing about—England’s rich folkloric scene.”
To immerse himself in this world, Markes had to start from scratch, initially relying on websites like Calendar Customs to learn about the various traditions. “This was a scene that was completely new to me, so research played a big part in choosing which events to go to,” he recalls. Now, he often attends events recommended by people within the folklore community, favouring those with a sense of mystery—festivals where participants don elaborate costumes, masks, or symbolic disguises.
Over time, he observed how these age-old traditions enabled people to engage with their past and contemplate their present identity. “The act of upholding these traditions—many dating back hundreds of years—evokes a sense of pride and togetherness among those present. This, in turn, affirms people’s sense of self and of belonging,” he reflects.
Markes’s candid imagery captures this perfectly, showing a side of England that celebrates local customs, communal rituals, and an ancient connection to the land.
It's fascinating to see a side of English identity that breaks free from the pervasive, rigid associations with empire, monarchy, and nationalism. For Markes, documenting these folkloric traditions became a way to rediscover a deeper, more grounded cultural heritage—one rooted in community, nature, and spirituality.
“Before We Come One, I felt detached from my identity as a white English man, viewing my heritage only through the lens of colonialism,” Markes shares. But as he captured moments of ritual and tradition, he encountered a side of English culture he hadn’t known before. “I discovered at Jack In The Green, for example, that we can be spiritual and nature-worshipping. I hadn’t ever experienced that before.”
Markes hopes We Come One will inspire viewers, like himself, to explore and connect with this side of their heritage, recognising the importance of communal joy and public spaces, while helping preserve England’s rich cultural tapestry. “There’s so much out there, but also so much to lose,” he warns. “If we don’t support these traditions, we could lose them as society becomes more commercial and digital.”
