Category: Cities
-
Leap of Faith
Thirty-five years ago, Chris Boot and I were commissioned by The Photographers’ Gallery to contribute a piece for their group show ‘The Invisible City’. With our model, Mark Linnington, we created a narrative tableaux of nine images. The leap of faith of one imaginary character, photographed in the remains of derelict London churches. Shot on…
-
Opportunity Area
I’ve recently bought two second-hand tilt-shift lenses, designed for architectural photography. Mechanically shifting the lens’s optics upwards allows me to photograph tall buildings without distortion. The technique dates back to the nineteenth century, but the current frenzy of high rise building in my local area makes it increasingly useful; allowing me to contrast the human…
-
Bonnington Square
Exhibition 1986 Bonnington Square in Vauxhall, south London, was part of an estate of houses built in the 1870s to house railway workers. It became famous in the 1980s when all the houses in it, vacant and awaiting demolition, were squatted. In the late 1970s, the Square was compulsorily purchased by the Greater London Council…
-
No Step
I last flew in 2019, a night flight from LA to London. While the passengers slept or dozed in front of in-flight movies, I slid a window blind up and peered out. A few metres from my face, two huge jet engines were hammering out burning hot CO2, Nitrous Oxide and a cocktail of other…
-
Protection
‘Fucking mask wearers’ swore the elderly gent as he and his wife looked around the farm shop tea room. He meant me, and I’d have taken it more seriously, if moments before he hadn’t sworn at everybody for parking their cars incorrectly. Still, it was an interesting pairing: authoritarian and pseudo-libertarian in one go. Nobody…
-
Stop
From 21st December 2020 to 29th March 2021, London came under Tier 4 ‘Stay at Home’ Covid restrictions. We were only allowed out for work or exercise. Non-essential shops and social spaces closed, although ‘one person [was] permitted to meet with one other person in an outside public space’. Our horizons narrowed, and time felt…
-
Compliance
Since Covid cases have exploded again, I’ve returned to the City of London for my exercise. The streets are quiet but there is always at least one fugitive figure in view. As we come into proximity, I find myself trying to categorise them: compliant or libertarian, responsible or feckless, aware or oblivious. Will they cross…
-
Duck
Update! Duck will be screening at Cody Dock, (E16 4TL) on Sat. 31st May 2025, as part of London Rivers Week. Details here: https://www.artrabbit.com/events/london-rivers-week-riverscapes Duck is a single screen 8.5 min, 16:9 ratio, film with stereo sound for gallery or cinema screening. The film emerges from our collaboration with Prof. Sofia Olhede at the UCL…
-
Bobby&Stillman in the Science Library
art, maths, movies and point-of-view Bobby and Stillman, our collaboration with mathematicians from UCL’s Big Data Institute is getting a long run at the UCL Science Library. UCL Science Library, Malet Place, London WC1E 6BT 020 7679 7795 Admission free Monday to Friday 09:30 – 20:45, Saturdays 11:00 – 17:45 July 27th. – September 22nd.…
-
Bobby and Stillman completes its run at Bar Juju
‘Bobby and Stillman’, our collaboration with Professors Sofia Olhede and Patrick Wolfe of UCL’s Big Data Institute, completed its run as part of the Creative Reactions show 15 – 18th May 2017. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPdXSqI-ApM&w=1280&h=720] Stimulating social context for inter-disciplinary discussions! See explainerising PDF handout here Bobby + Stillman in more detail
-
Bobby and Stillman Show
‘Bobby and Stillman’ will be opening as part of Creative Reactions at: Juju’s Bar and Stage, Truman Brewery, 15 Hanbury St. (off Brick Lane), London E1 6QR. The free show at Juju’s bar will be open from midday till 6pm Tuesday 16th to Thursday 18th May. Do call by and see us. From 7-10pm 15-18th May there will…
-
Thames Tides at Crossness Pumping Station
Thames Tides is screening alongside the beam engines at the ethereal Crossness Engine House. The huge building combines ponderous machinery and delicate filigree work to astonishing effect. Its function was to pump London’s sewage up above the level of the Thames and release it on an outgoing tide. What better place to screen Thames Tides? Here…