1993-4
This was the start of my fascinated documentation of rapidly disappearing small scale industry and business in London, in this case Bermondsey – Sarsons Malt Vinegar was then still on Tower Bridge Rd – the demolition of countless antique shops to make way for a new Tesco Opening on the Old Kent Road. Seeking to change my practice I had abandoned attempts at authorship, drawings and making sculpture. I resumed relating to others identities in an ongoing exploration and appropriation of the other world of men, working class occupations, alongside a journey into public space. I was privileged to be able to use my identity as an art student (young pretty educated posh white) woman to escape/go on holiday from my self. Or privileged to not feel the need to even explore or expose my identity, and wanting to maximise any licence I had. This tendency, backgrounding the author role, continued notably with the Cumbrian Liars in the Festival of Lying 2000 and Italian ‘mobilers’ in Ice Cream Van Convention 2002.
Archive
Recorded interviews and photographs:
Mr. Jobe, Bickel and Co. Ltd, Bermondsey St; Ticino Bakery Ltd; A+F Mountain Ltd; Walter Coles Plastic Bags, London; Joseph Caruana Nailmaker Ltd, Gozo; Mr Gertenback, Struijs Papier Bags+Paper, Amsterdam.
‘Rethinking Wellbeing Through Art: How Artists Critique Wellness in the Workplace’ by Simon Willems 2024 (Palgrave Macmillan)