18 August 2011

Monopoly - UK Riots Edition


11 August 2011

A Short Message from David Cameron


After the Riot, Peckham Builds a Love Wall

One of the many areas in London hit by the recent riots was the slice of South East London which goes by the name of Peckham.  Over the years the place has become almost a byword for inner city problems in the UK and there is no doubt that the area has its issues.  Yet the real people of Peckham made their voices heard in the aftermath of the riot in a creative and thought provoking way.

On the smashed and boarded up window of Poundland (for those of you out of the UK this is a chain of shops where nothing costs over a pound but you probably guessed that!) a few people began to stick notes explaining in a few words Why We Love Peckham.

It wasn't long before the wall became a riot - of color! By the evening the wall was covered in hundreds of messages of goodwill - a positive indication that Peckham will rise again.

The riots were something which shocked the nation – and the rest of the world.  This show of unity by Peckham’s diverse communities serves as a reminder that the people can, do and will stand united in the face of civil unrest and havoc created by a minority.

While many questions about the riots need to be answered this spontaneous act of public art by the real people of Peckham shows that for every rioter intent on destroying their own environment there are many more who will not allow this to happen.  Hats off to the people of Peckham!

27 June 2011

Robots of Brixton


Robots of Brixton is unusual, exciting and different, not least because it concerns an area close to which I live – Brixton.  Set in the near future this startling animation by Kibwe Tavares sees Brixton inhabited by a new wave of immigrants – this time, however, it is not people but robots.

Designed to carry out all the tasks that humans do not want to do the robot population has grown sky high.  This is reflected in the (still somewhat recognizable) streets of Brixton which have some very impressive CG add-ons.

The robots live lives which are marred by poverty, disillusionment and, it seems, mass unemployment.

Yet they do have one space which they can call their own (shades of Unamatrix Zero if you know what I mean!) until this is invaded by the police, intent on curbing any illegal activity with as heavy hand as possible.

This would stand very well on its own but what Tavares and his team have very cleverly done is to interpolate the recent history of Brixton in to this film of the future.

The clash of robots and the authorities mirror the infamous Brixton riots of 1981 with actual footage from then, caught by the lense of photographer David Hoffman.

As the youth of South East London once again bear the brunt of a seemingly unfeeling, patrician and care-less government, perhaps this should be sent to No 10 Downing Street.  As a reminder of the past it also carries a stark warning for the future.