Channel 4 Building, London, UK
The building for the UK TV station, Channel 4, is one of my favourite buildings in London. Located on Horseferry Road, near Victoria, I used to walk by it often when I lived in the area a number of years ago.
I decided to visit the area recently – in order to re-visit some of my favourite buildings in the area – and found that there was an interesting art installation outside the main entrance. There were a few spray cans with skeletons inside them and rubble around the cans.
I decided to visit the area recently – in order to re-visit some of my favourite buildings in the area – and found that there was an interesting art installation outside the main entrance. There were a few spray cans with skeletons inside them and rubble around the cans.
One of my – rather ongoing – projects is about graffiti, and this public art display caught my eye. I did wonder what the meaning of it was, particularly when there was a note on the floor with #stoppoliccuts …
I am not sure who the artist is or artists are, but it did challenge my initial thoughts that it was faintly supporting street art. Perhaps it was a statement about urban decay and declined, with the bones inside the spray cans …
The spray cans were possibly symbolising a certain disrespect rather than artistic expression. Graffiti is nothing new, but opinion about it is somewhat polarised between the art and wanton defacing. There is a fine line between the two.
I did feel, however, that the note with #stoppolicecuts was somewhat poignant in light of the riots in England; although, I am not sure when this installation was set up so am not sure whether it was in response to this. What was a legitimate, and peaceful, protest in regards to policing in one of the most deprived areas in London, if not England, turned into wanton disrespect to other people’s property and livelihoods.
I did have a quick look on Twitter to see if anyone had tweeted #stoppolicecuts, and no one really had. I did wonder how effective the statement was.
What I took away from the installation was the fine line between what is perceived to be acceptable and unacceptable – whether it’s expression, art or social norms - is very fine, if not very ambiguous.
I did feel, however, that the note with #stoppolicecuts was somewhat poignant in light of the riots in England; although, I am not sure when this installation was set up so am not sure whether it was in response to this. What was a legitimate, and peaceful, protest in regards to policing in one of the most deprived areas in London, if not England, turned into wanton disrespect to other people’s property and livelihoods.
I did have a quick look on Twitter to see if anyone had tweeted #stoppolicecuts, and no one really had. I did wonder how effective the statement was.
What I took away from the installation was the fine line between what is perceived to be acceptable and unacceptable – whether it’s expression, art or social norms - is very fine, if not very ambiguous.
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