Condemned building explodes into a riot of colour and light
Artists celebrate 40 years of memories on 1960s estate set for demolition
Published: 12 March 2010
by RÓISÍN GADELRAB
CABBAGES sprang from cold concrete, graffiti was daubed on balconies and a room transformed into a vision of fluorescent yellow as artists were given free rein over the condemned buildings of Market Estate before the buildings are demolished.
Sculptor Antony Gormley was among the thousands who turned up to see the huge art project, where 75 artists used flats, stairwells and communal spaces as blank canvases celebrating 40 years of memories. He described the project as “a joy and a delight”.
The 1960s estate is being flattened to make way for a new development of homes and businesses dubbed Parkside Place. Residents helped pick the final 75 artists from more than 300 applicants, challenged to work with the history and architecture of the estate.
Pieces ranged from Jess Blandford and Joe Morris’s fluorescent yellow “dying utopia” to Rebecca Glover’s monster sculptures and Giulia Sala’s audio tour through empty flats, guiding visitors through more than 40 years of memories.
Southern Housing Group (SHG) and arts regeneration organisation TallTales were the brains behind the project.
One particularly poignant piece was a Post-it note recreation of former tenants’ association secretary Jim Veal, who died in 2006. His widow Margaret worked with artist Mark Calderbank to created the mural. “He was so involved in plans for regenerating this estate, so it was wonderful to see his face on the stairwell,” she said.
Ms Veal, who has lived at Market Estate since 1973, added: “Seeing the old estate become a huge exhibition was amazing. It was an exciting and touching way to say goodbye to Market Estate before it starts to come down.”
Resident David Kelly, who has lived there for 10 years, said: “It was very emotional. They recreated an image of Jim Veal. He put so much of his life into the estate and making us get new homes. It’s sad to see the old estate go in a weird way but it had to go.”
Mr Kelly’s voice was recorded by one artist, who took over a flat, playing recordings of ex-tenants going through their morning routines.
He said: “She was recreating what happens in every home. Somehow the artists created something about the residents or the history. I was blown away. It ended with a music and laser installation. The whole building came alive.”
The buildings will start to be demolished next month. SHG has built 234 homes and rehoused 237 former council tenants on the site over the past five years. Another 187 homes will be built over the next two years, 89 for private sale, 45 for shared ownership and 53 affordable homes.
Stephen Ross of SHG said: “We were pleased to be able to support artists in a project that enriches the immediate community – an amazing way to welcome in the estate’s new name, Parkside Place.”
TallTales director and project co-curator Gadi Sprukt, said: “This was a truly unique opportunity for emerging talent to freely engage with an iconic site, and to showcase new work.”