One of the greatest things about the ACME residency was that it facilitated my move tothe East end of London. After graduating I knew I wanted to settle this side of town because of the thriving art scene but had no idea where or how. Now that I’m here I suspect that this part of town is not the best of places in the world to grow up but as an artist, here by choice, it’s a great place to be.
I was reminded of this as I wandered down Brick Lane on a quest to Atlantis (to get art supplies). For me, Brick Lane as a street encapsulates much of the areas personality and not purely because of its famed Bengali Cuisine, trendy markets and quirky shops. What I love is the randomness. The interventions, quirky tagging and personalized store fronts.
A response to an earlier part of this blog questioned the part we play in change. Here unlike the Olympic site, you can see the evolution of the environment, see direct community intervention and reclaimed public spaces. I know it wouldn’t be to everybody’s taste but it feels like it’s ours, as though we have a say and if we are brave enough a voice to respond.
