Today, as a shadowy male or female figure once did, I stalked the streets of Whitechapel (slightly). I avoided visiting the sites associated with Jack the Ripper, although s/he pervades the streets of East London. A spectral vulture feeding on the culture of the area, spewing forth ideas and indirectly giving a name to a hairdressers, Jack the Clipper!
I began my journeys at the Whitechapel Gallery, where I attended the 'Adventures of the Black Square' exhibition. This exhibition featured numerous works including one of Malevich's 'Black Quadrilateral' paintings, which helped to kick start a branch of abstract act, concerned with depicting the world through shapes, particularly squares and also lines. The exhibition ranged from 1915 to the present day and contained an eclectic mix of works. My mind oddly not engaging with lots of the works. Although, occasionally, I found myself responding in slightly interesting ways to compositions and installations. One video installation involved coloured blocks moving across the foreground of the screen in different directions and the background contained various details of everyday life. I remained entranced until I could finally determine whether the blocks would merge or crash with each other. The blocks overlapped. I was glad they did not crash. I worried about the damage such a collision would cause to their integral form.
I found the Whitechapel Gallery a fascinating space. Some of the galleries in the space were like large warehouse spaces. Brick walls punctuated by screens representing more spaces. Environments captured via the means of photography and rapidly cut between. In fact, the building as a whole struck me as being no more coherent than a series of jigsaw pieces thrown in the air and allowed to fall as they chose. Not a bad thing when you get used to visiting galleries that are clinically organised. One particular series of works were presented in a room which had variable lighting. I was amazed to see a member of staff sitting in the room, whilst music played. To sit in what must feel like a meditative state for any length of time, having the tranquillity or madness interrupted by visitors must be difficult.
Cupids guard the Whitechapel Gallery.
Well, free up to a point unless you visit the paid exhibitions.
I left the Whitechapel Gallery and went for a little walk around the area. For some reason, I found myself immediately drawn to a park. I entered the park and was amazed to see lots of bits of flooring and bizarre relics. I was reminded of alters (as it turns out rightly so).
The entrance to Altab Ali Park, originally known as St. Mary's Park. It was renamed to remember a man who was murdered in Adler Street in 1978.
Altab Ali Park contains the remains of St. Mary Matfelon, a 14th Century white chapel and I believe other churches that have been build on the site through the centuries. So by accident, I stumbled on the origins of Whitechapel. It certainly feels like an area of positive energies in its current manifestation, a place of rest and unity.
Lovely mosaic tiles, in conjunction with nature.
An adult playground for spiritualists and pacifists.
 |
If anyone can explain the meaning of this diagram, I would be very grateful for an interpretation. It looks like a map or an attempt to illustrate the positioning of celestial bodies.
After leaving the park, I continued my journey around Whitechapel and its vicinities. I was determined to visit Fournier Street (strictly speaking not Whitechapel but as I have discovered, it is hard to ascertain where one section of East London starts and another ends). Fournier Street located in Spitalfields still contains a number of 18th Century houses. It's like walking into a Dickens' novel, only dirtier and weirder. Prior to entering the street, I was accosted by a cyclist who scrounged money from me to get a taxi to go to Homerton Hospital. He had a huge gash on his arm. Real or fake to encourage gullible people to part with their cash? Doesn't matter, I need some positive karma.
Fournier Street. The trend for replacement continues apace but not removal. The original sign (or one of them hides beneath the pretender to modernity.
Fournier Street. A picture postcard of a past still clung to with reverence.
Creative window display in Fournier Street.
Whilst in Whitechapel, I was impressed by the eclectic range of eateries adorning the roads and even more so by the street art and other creative endeavours including the protest posters.
Just struck me as striking.
I guess it's a poster advertising an artist's work but as is the case in East London, things like this crop up all over the place. Grotty building sites are home to unique art.
I was interested in this with its reference to 'aggressive marketing strategies'. I believe it may be connected to the above artist or group, although this has been torn creating a new work of art.
An Anarchist group expressing their solidarity with their captured colleagues in Spain. I was attracted by its style and the image of the bird and the flowers. The roots surrounding the Anarchist's logo also seem strangely out of time.
Whilst I headed back to Whitechapel Station, I took photos of objects and shapes that interested me. I feel that capturing a sense of space is as much about exploring those things that have an emotional impact upon you as taking photos of local attractions.
Chimney, possibly part of the Royal London Hospital. This reminded me of the Serpent from the Garden of Eden for some reason, possibly wrapped around the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
Closer image of the Serpent and Tree.
One of the buildings that form the Royal London Hospital. This reminded me of Mondrian's paintings.
Another photo of the Royal London Hospital. I was entranced by the plastic flurries and barbed wire. A more accurate summation of life in the 21st Century I couldn't possibly hope to find.
Just a local Angel looking for a place to stay.
The clue is in the name.
I finished my journey at the Whitechapel Overground Station (as if you recall, that's what the L.O.P. is all about. There was an amusing moment when I looked up and saw both the Underground and Overground signs, but you may have to sing the two words to understand my reference.
The Whitechapel Overground sign.
Barry Watt - 7th February 2015.
Afterword
The 'Adventures of the Black Square' exhibition is on at the Whitechapel Gallery until 6th April 2015.
For all other references, please use Google, home to lazy researchers or creative ones who don't like to waste their time.
The boxes in the title refers to the number of boxes I saw being delivered today around Whitechapel. I notice these seemingly insignificant details, so other people don't have to.
BW
|
No comments:
Post a Comment