A friend recently asked me for advice as to what to do and see in London. A fairly ambiguous question at the best of times, what with this town being so alive, and one which was made slightly trickier: outside the usual milestones such as the Eye, where could she go with her teenage son?
Shoreditch sprang to my mind. This may not be your usual neighbourhood, but it is ideal for street art hunting. On a sunny Sunday, it will bring the buzz of Brick Lane and offers a lovely stroll.
You talk of street art, nowadays, and the name “Banksy” will be the first name flung in your direction, but there are many more interesting artists out there. The pieces usually are short lived: maybe only a few days or a few weeks, before the weather fades them or the wall gets repainted. You might be one of the happy few to have seen it… It leaves you with a VIP feeling and a smile on your face. Some, however, are particularly loved and seem to survive quite well – follow me!
Take the tube to Liverpool station, and head down Middlesex Street. Just at the corner is a Space Invader piece. The artist found his inspiration in the 1970s video game and places those funny little icons around the world (one, most famously, was positioned on the Hollywood sign) you will find plenty around here, keep your eyes open. This one was inspired by the ever present CCTVs, hence the mirror eyes…
Stay in Middlesex Street which is now more known to locals as Alphabet Street. Eine started with tagging lovely letters around Shoreditch, preferring the shops roll down doors. The owners ended asking for them: success was on the way. You can track down your A to Z on the closed shutters. His art became so famous that David Cameron, actually, offered one of his pieces to Barack Obama – street art on the White House walls, now, that’s a first…You will also find a whole wall with flying letters and a colourful HAPPY: why not pause YMCA style, trying to mime the shapes, for a nice souvenir pic!
Walk to the Old Spitafields Market – on the weekend, it will be filled with colourful stalls of all kinds, modern, ravishing, with a range of world food to snack on on your journey. A little further is Corbet Place. There is plenty to be seen on the walls around. Look at the Root-master, a double decker bus turned into a vegetarian restaurant, is it hiding something? If you scout behind here you will find the most amazing Mary Poppins (unsigned):
The Stolenspace gallery always is worth a visit. It recently welcomed a Penguin book show with a variety of artists presenting a version of their favourite classic. The next one will open on February 3rd and will star David Bray‘s intricate black and white drawings. Search on the right side of their door for one of C215‘s fragmented faces…
Set off for Brick Lane, which intersects with Hanbury Street about half way down. A number of artists prefer to use wheat based posters: quicker to post around so they are less likely to be noticed. Roa goes the extra mile, with this building-sized crane!
I usually stop shortly after this point for a chai latte at the Vintage Emporium. The place is like a time travel while still being very cosy and welcoming. It’s a cutesy treasure trove, with lots of games and puzzles to flick through on its shelves, and a cupcake or two at the till…
Downstairs is an amazing vintage boutique. The clothes range from the Victorian era to the 1960ies and have a glamour touch to them. The lace is particularly exquisite, but it is not only about the ladies: I am yet to meet a guy not tempted by the top hats…
At the end of Brick Lane, cross over to Redchurch street, a great place for additions to your collection, including a squirrel by Roa and two walls by Eine – choose your side!
The pieces I have mentioned have been there for months if not years and are not likely to disappear yet. This art style, however, is constantly evolving and you will find new gems from one week to another – a constantly evolving urban landscape that mirrors the ever-growing population of local artists. For street art royalty, take Rivington Street and stop at Cargo: the walls are regularly redone by new artists and one of them, protected by a transparent pane, shows a Banksy… You’ll find interesting things around every corner in this part of town…
Down that street is Curtain Road, our last stop on this graffiti trail. The Cordy House is always worth stopping by. As it shelters Mutate Britain who host festivals, visiting artists often leave a signature on the façade… One of those at the moment is by Alicé:
You probably are starving by now – try The Book Club for a relaxed atmosphere, delicious treats (I love coming here for breakfast) or a party of table football or two, which is sure to be the perfect touch for any teenager! Old street station is now only a 5 minute walk away for those tired feet…
That is an afternoon in London Town well spent!
