Christchurch Spitalfields From A Rooftop In Hanbury Street
The view below was taken yesterday whilst we were doing a final shoot for our film ‘From Cable Street to Brick Lane’.
Christchurch Spitalfields from a rooftop in Hanbury Street, London 2010
I last visited the rooftop some 25 years ago and got an entirely different view!
Christchurch Spitalfields from a rooftop in Hanbury Street, London 1984
You can enjoy more shots of Christchurch Spitalfields here.
Surrealism Battles Regeneration in Cheshire Street
I’m sometimes asked the question: ‘How do you choose the subject for the day?’. I suspect that people may think there is a carefully sculptured 5 year plan. In reality, like today, I often get diverted from my original idea by taking the ‘wrong turn’ in my archive.
Man examining 'junk' at the Sunday Market in Cheshire Street. London 2002
Making a ‘wrong turn’ can be fatal as you can easily loose 2 – 3 hours through being sucked into the archive. Every picture tells a story (particularly if you were the photographer). Perhaps these diversions are healthy as I become more familiar with my 40 year old archive.
Man examining 'junk' at the Sunday Market in Cheshire Street. London 2002
So todays Photo Blog is a series of photographs which simply caught my attention and continue to fascinate me.
Man examining 'junk' at the Sunday Market in Cheshire Street. London 2002
An amazing combination of objects with a man being drawn into this surreal installation. This was a free show but because of ‘regeneration’ such sites are sadly becoming very rare.
Photomonth 2011
Following more hospital treatment I’ve made an unseemly rush into my photoblog in order to demonstrate that my brain is still functioning! Thanks again to my partner Hazuan Hashim for keeping everyone posted with his stylish and thoughtful curation from the archive. His curatorial style brought an entirely new take on my work. Thanks again Haz for keeping the shop open….
My 40 year retrospective has also been curated by Hazuan for the launch of Photomonth at the Bishopsgate Institute on September 29th. Rossana Leal and Andrew Grainger of Mercadito Productions have worked closely with Hazuan and archivist Stephan Dickers. Thank to all the ‘team’ for their hard work and advice.
’40 Years On’ will be part of a tremendous range of Photomonth Exhibitions facilitated by the indomitable Maggie Pinhorn of Alternative Arts.
Alternative arts produces and directs photomonth and presents a diverse programme of arts events throughout each year including jazz, dance, theatre, literature, photography, fashion, festivals and exhibitions.
www.alternativearts.co.uk
Graphic for exhibition using photograph taken in Greece.
From Victoriana to Hoxtonite Terminal
Wheeler Street was a forgotten side street for decades but remained a handy way for the residents of Wheeler House to get onto the end of Bethnal Green Rd.
GOING
Woman walking under the bridge in Wheeler Street. London 1987
On Sundays the spaces under the bridge (Now the exit and entrance for the new Shoreditch station) could open up for a variety of different market sales.
GOING
Demolition of Wheeler Street. London, 2002
Somehow Wheeler Street and the spaces under the bridge had a distinctly Victorian feel. The superb Victorian industrial architecture was erily enhanced by poor lighting and thousands of charcoal coloured bricks.
GONE!
Wheeeler Street following demolition works. London, 2002
Invasion of the Estate Snatchers
For most of my life I have lived in the Tower Block which you can see in the third photograph below. From the balcony of our flat you could get an immediate sense of belonging to the East End of London. Looking West 30 years ago (below) you could see only a small suggestion of the City. Looking East there was no Canary Wharf.
View of the City from the Chicksand Estate. Spitalfields, 1982
As time progressed the view to the West rapidly changed until the walls of my peace loving Tower Block felt they were about to be boarded by enemy siege towers carrying estate agents. In recent years a propaganda war has involved a number of tricks including at least one letter a week from an estate agent claiming they have bankers who want to live in our block. We’ve never wanted to surrender to these City marauders. Where would we go? Who wants to live next to a banker?
A siege tower under construction for the invasion of the Chicksand Estate, London 2002
The 1980’s was a relatively peaceful time. There was still a lot of open spaces. The photographs below were taken looking west from the waste land behind Whitechapel station reaching up to Vallance Rd.
Boys from the Chicksand Estate, 1980's
Boys from the Chicksand Estate, 1980's
The Rich Estate Snatchers have demolished much of the area surrounding my estate.
A view of the demolition that has occured to make way for Estate Snatchers. Bethnal Green London 2002.
