Before going away I stumbled across the work of a polish graffiti artist on-line. ‘Truth’ has been making really interesting architectural graffiti for some time. The pieces are made from polystyrene then attached to urban walls and surfaces complimenting the existing architecture, becoming part of the build cityscape. I’m excited by the parallels than can be drawn with the project I am embarking upon.
Unfortunately the blog entry ‘Truths architectural graffiti and ornament as crime’ and talk of criminal acts has made me nervous. Being a good girl I suspect that my fear of installing my first unsanctioned intervention has subconsciously slowed production of ‘nowhere places of perceived importance’.
I’ve planed for some time to head out early one Sunday morning, when traffic is slower and work men are absent.
On closer inspection I see that ‘Truth’ in one of the photos, is blatantly installing one of his pieces, in broad day light with very public use of a crane. I’m beginning to suspecting that the anonymity and talk of criminal activity is more to protect his street cred than his criminal record. This makes me feel a little more relaxed about my upcoming instillation.
http://lifewithoutbuildings.net/2008/06/truths-arc…
www.truthtag.com
Am of to the Lake District to day. Am looking forward to the extreme contrast to my normal everyday life in London.
I am looking forward to reading, drawing, sleeping, in whatever order they come. Im hoping that the leaves are changing and that the walking doesn’t kill me. Im interested to see what if anything this trip throws up creatively. I will let you know when I get home.
I recently came across a document ‘High Street 2012’, published by tower hamlet counsel, outlining there intended regeneration of the street that runs along the end of my road. (www.highstreet2012.com/HighStreet2012.pdf)
I had to laugh when I read that one of the objectives is to ‘De-clutter the street by removing unused signage, railings ans street furniture.’ Any body having visited our area over the last nine months or so will appreciate the irony of this. Locals and drivers have lived with the systematic deconstruction of the surrounding roads and the inconvenience that this has entailed.
Although no doubt the developments in the long term will benefit the community that survives the improvement’s, I wanted to make a piece of work that will sit in amongst the visual chaos and give a tongue in cheek nod to those that have lived through the inconvenience that has ensued.
I graduated from Wimbledon in 2006 I was lucky enough to have been selected, almost immediately as eligible for a live work studio in the east end of London. The south edge of the Olympic park is around a five walk from the Acme ‘sugarhouse lane studios’. Our area has seen many changes since I moved in. Although the future of our site is in jeopardy because of the obvious developments taking place, it looks as though I am going to be fortunate enough to actually complete near enough the full five years before IKEA ,the new owners, turf us out.
http://www.acme.org.uk/residencies.php
If I’m honest, I have to admit that much of what has been happening on my doorstep has passed my bye. Obviously there was an initial excitement as the main structures began to appear, but most of the changes until now have taken place behind locked gates, only to be glimpsed at while rubbernecking from the road or train.
I am going to use this place to share some of the things that are happening around me now, and as a place to document the work I am planning to make in response to both the things that have remained and the things that are going to changes.
