PHIL MAXWELL

Poster Face

January 26, 2011

Boy walking past posters, Commercial Street 1987

Fly posters appear mysteriously outside empty buildings, walls and windows. I’ve never actually seen anyone paste one of these posters up. This adds to their mystery. Their illegal status also adds to their appeal. These photographs illustrate the ability of posters to connect with passers by as if they were part of an ingeniously designed film set.

Nurse passing posters, Aldgate 1987

Sustainable Clothes

January 25, 2011

Man shopping for second hand clothes on Cheshire Street, 1988

Before Brick Lane was invaded by money and trend setters there were many clothes shops that opened for the Sunday market. Cheshire Street came alive on Sundays as derelict properties opened their doors to reveal heaps of second hand clothes. Today the equivalent of these shops are ‘retro’ establishments. Retro shops present second hand clothes with labels such as ‘1950’s classic’ and charge exorbitant prices.