Hackney: A Walking Photo Exhibition #4

Go for a walk along Hackney and take a peek, a little surprise can be found for those who seek.

1) The lady drinking coffee

She was my first, her blue eyes staring back at me. Like most Saturdays, Broadway Markets called my name, a little ritual I had. I would ride down through London Fields and let the aromas of the market food excite me. From burgers to roasts, to wraps and cakes, a smorgasbord of stalls lined up, ready to increase anyone’s waistline. I picked up my tea from Climpson and Sons, always needing a cuppa in hand. I sat outside on their wooden bench, a people watchers dream seat. I made my descent through the market toward the canal. As always, I stopped to listen to the music in front of the deck chairs. He was setting up his gear, local 16yr old Ricky showered us with music, his soothing voice and electric guitar perfect for a remix of R.Kelly’s Ignition. Above Ricky on the side of a brick building, I saw a photo of a woman in blue, she was enjoying her hot beverage. There was no sign, it wasn’t framed, I wondered why it was there? I imagined an artist had decided to make use of an empty space and placed an artwork there for everyone to enjoy. In that moment, I reminded myself why I loved living here.

2) The lady swimming between a rock and a hard place.

Every morning I ride to work, ducking and weaving through the busses along the way. I was listening to Kanye’s Life of Pablo album, feeling energised and lucky to have another day riding only with a shirt on. Something caught my eye as I rode along Graham Road towards Dalston. In between the bricked townhouses and street lamps, I saw something out of place. Only a week since finding the first image, I wondered if I had stumbled on another random photo amongst Hackney. I didn’t stop to look; one big blur as I rode away. It felt as though id sighted a shiny rare Pokemon, I wondered if I would be able to find it again? For the next couple of days, I would always remember again on the same street but either forget the side street or already gone past it. When I did return, the lady swimming, covering her face in between two rocks was another lovely photo on the wall of an otherwise plain brick building. It allowed people to dream, it allowed people to remove themselves from the urban city, even only for a split second to wonder, where is this girl swimming? Why is she covering her face? I was grateful to find my shiny rare Pokemon, I wondered if there were any more around?

3) The desert Christ yellow lady

I never ride along the canal; I’m glad i did that day. From Camden, I decided to take a little detour down to Hackney via the canal. The canal offers a more scenic route as oppose to the back streets and alleyways I’m used to. The water presents natural beauty, the green algae making it all the more interesting, a giant green smoothie one might say. Passing by swans, I rode along the narrow side walk, through runners and riders. I past those who were walking home and those who had already cracked open a fresh beer sitting on the bench. Riding under Queensbridge Road I was pleasantly surprised to see on the left of me a third portrait poster. She had a yellow dress, filmed in the desert, crucifix’s in the background; another contradicting photo to the urban river and the brick housing that it presented itself on. Beside myself for finding another poster, I almost missed the next one.

4) The American Desert

I love going on adventures with my bike in London, I truly think it’s a waste if you don’t ride in this city. Just my luck for riding a new direction when I found my third poster, only a couple of pedals down hung another artwork along the canal. Big peaked mountains, a red desert as if blood had been seeped into the ground. It was the first landscape, the colours of the mountain blending with the surroundings of the red brick building. I never found anymore, I hope to think there are a few surprises left when I take an unexpected turn and be welcomed by a lovely picture. I hope that this kind of creativity continues here.

Until next time. CK.

#hackney #photos #streetart