2009 BA (Hons) Fine Art and Visual Theories
For information about Matthew's latest exhibitions please click on the image above
David Little, Simon Keeley, Nicola Gibson (2003 MA Art in Architecture)
Shadwell Soundwaves Design Features
Shadwell Soundwaves is a series of six stone benches at the centre of Tarling Heights and Watney Plaza, a new complex of flats, shops and park for local people developed by One Housing Group (formerly Toynbee Housing Association).
During the spring of 2007 artist David Little spent time with local people and talked to them about their memories and experiences of living and working in Shadwell. Extracts from these conversations were then carved into the benches. The quotations reveal and document the diversity of the local community and include references to the history of the docks and old Watney Market, stories of migrant populations and young people’s ideas about the future in this ever-changing part of London. Simon Keeley was involved in the project also as a letter carver and Nicola Gibson was the glass artist for the project.
David worked with the Bangladeshi Youth Movement, Watney Market Library Book Group, Docker’s Club, Link Age Plus at Sonali Gardens,
London Somali Action Forum, Tarling Residents’ Association, Swedendorg Elders Club, Lady Mico’s Almshouses, Friends of Yiddish, and Care House. An exhibition of the transcripts of the interviews was held at Watney Market Library in June 2007, and local people chose their favourite quotations. Stonemason Simon Keeley then carved these quotes into the slate on site, giving another opportunity to find out about the project and also see the traditional craft of letter carving in action. Digital recordings and transcripts of selected interviews will be available at local libraries.
The project aimed to:
• allow members of the local community to play a part in the design and construction of the benches
• create a feature that provides a focal point within Watney Plaza and invites people of all ages to linger in the newly landscaped space
• create an attractive, durable and tactile art work which makes a strong but subtle statement about the people and identity of this historic and
culturally diverse part of the East End
The carved texts are intended to intrigue passers-by; Some are in languages not all will understand. But it is important that the texts are direct transcripts of spoken words, voices that deserve to be heard in this community. Shadwell Soundwaves will continue to be a talking point reflecting the area’s character, history and aspirations for the future, and help to foster a renewed sense of identity for Shadwell.
The benches feature glass inserts illuminated by internal LED lights that change colour according to movement of passing pedestrians, and stone ripples cut using state-of-the-art CNC (computer numerically controlled) stone cutting technology.
For further info about the project, please click here
http://shadwellsoundwaves.blogspot.com/
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