A quick post as Mapping the City in Somerset House ends this Sunday, 15th Feb.
Work from 50 Graffiti and Street artists.
I love maps, always have.
From the 3D plotting of contour lines in Geography lessons
to recently studying a local map on a friends wall, 1894,
seeing that my road was yet to be built.
Perhaps not looking for his own street, Brad Downey has found hidden faces in these roads.
Don't know what the Street art world would make of this,
but my friend and I have just found the inspiration for our respective valentines cards.
Hearts in maps. You have to get your inspiration from somewhere?
These contours are not roads, nor countries but walks.
The exact route of each walk, cut out in a seperate colour and hung on a pole.
"I wonder if that work will continue to grow?"
People have different relationships with the city.
This woman is said to be intertwined, 'becoming part of the fabric of the city'.
I like the idea of a woman at the top, looking at ease with herself.
The underground city is also represented.
The Paris Metro.
Casts taken from Hector Guimard's metro entrances.
Saggy shapes of something solid that you vaguely recognise.
Mapping the City has an air of a student show about it.
Nothing to do with the work, but because of the space it is in.
From the entrance with its photocopied sign,
to the catalogue numbers on the floor,
to the newly opened up space, mid-restoration.
As well as the art, the builders have left their mark, many marks.
"Who's Mick?"
It's an amazing space for an exhibition. We enjoyed the space as much as the exhibition.
After our initial response, "New Zealand is in the wrong place",
my friend had lived there, this grew on us.
It was produced from memory and memories don't always serve you well.
Produced from Martin Tibabuzo's memory which he began to loose around ten years ago.
A poignant map exposing personal vulnerability,
not something you usually associate with the idea of Graffiti and Street art.
Mapping The City is on until February 15th at Somerset House.
Details on their website, here.
