MONTHLY CHALLENGE|WRITING|TRAVEL|TRAVEL WRITING|CREATIVE WRITING
London Street Art Seen From the Saddle of My Ridgeback
North, south, east, or west. Wherever I turn, I’m surrounded by stunning images
As someone who lives north of the river, my writing focuses mainly on north, northeast and east London. But I do visit other parts of the British capital. This time this column starts west, on Portobello Road, a place that holds many happy memories for me. It was here that I finished my three-market tour in the summer of 2015, the first time I had ventured outside my patch in Edmonton, Enfield, on my old, heavy, and battered Raleigh.
On that occasion, I cycled to Borough Market, kicking off my two-wheel-powered journey through three iconic places: Borough, Brixton, and Portobello. It wasn’t just the markets I was after, but the history and culture that had defined these areas of London.
For this month’s challenge, I decided to start outside the Japanese restaurant Ukai and the marvellous, detail-rich image that sits on top of it. It would be hard to find a more emblematic mural than this artwork, entitled Lady Kinoko, by artist Fin DAC. For me, the piece encapsulates the energy and creative power W11 symbolises.
From the west, I travelled south of the river, on my Ridgeback, of course. Someone had alerted me to a mural on Clements Road, Bermondsey. The 40-metre-long artwork tells the story of this place that not many people know about. From its role in the suffragette movement to its strong community ethos, Bermondsey has been a key part of London’s history. The mural was made using natural materials, which means it’s not only aesthetically pleasant but also environmentally friendly.
I cycled back up, but east of the city. This time the piece I came across was a lucky find. Interesting that I’ve been to the Golden Lane Estate many times, even written about it recently, but I’d never spotted this artwork. What struck me straight away was the humour. “No Bees! No Food!” It could be something right out of Pixar Studios. But that’s the sort of images you run into when you cycle or walk around Londontown.
Finally, the last leg of my journey found me back north, on Gunners territory. A hop, skip, and jump away from Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium we come face to face with Bugs Bunny. Never mind the goofy look. How on earth did the rabbit manage to keep the cup hovering mid-air?
Who knows? Maybe another mural will explain it.
I want to big up the following ‘trotters:
Adrienne Beaumont for her fantastic piece on Tallinn.
Jillian Amatt - Artistic Voyages for her wonderful contribution on Canadian murals.
