Common Ground Uncommon Spaces
An exhibition at Four Corners Gallery in Bethnal Green London
Rembrandts Nite Klub oil painting 180 x 300 cm
A reimagined event
I have always liked night clubs. Rembrandts, in this painting is partly outdoors in a warm climate.
Corrugated metal sheeting, such a common versatile building material.
Here used as a wall, a definer of space.
Invented in London in 1892 by Henry Palmer an industrial engineer .
Introduced to African countries in the 1870s initially in the mining industries.
In informal settlements like Kibera in Nairobi, you can find rusting sheets of corrugated metal that have been reused multiple times
and repurposed alongside other building materials
Kibera was developed in 1918 when plots of land were allocated to Nubian soldiers returning from fighting in the First World War.
Kibera means forest. It is now a forest of human life, one of the biggest informal settlements in the world.
notes: Esso man oil drop key ring : Chandigarh chair
Pluvia Museum of Rain Oil Painting 120 x 160 cm
“museum of rain” ? I like it. I’m sure the grockles will part with cash to visit your museum, as long as you do a cream tea in the caff. Reminds me of that old Tommy Cooper joke - “ I saw her in the street the other day. She gave me a wave. I’ve still got it at home in a bucket”
Containers - the ubiquitous steel shipping container was invented and patented in 1956 by Malcolm McLean, who started his working life as an American truck driver. He co founded McLean Trucking Co. The idea was to use the same container to transport goods from trucks to ships to railways without the goods having to be removed. It transformed the cargo industry and the lives of many. The UK’s and the world’s docklands changed forever.
It was the standardisation of the containers that made them successful, and the adaptation. of transport to carry them. The common size has lengths of between 20 to 40ft, widths of 8ft and heights of 8 ft 6 ins.
Ai estimates that there are 10,000 containers lost at sea every year and that there are any number between 17 to 530 million containers like these in the world. They are now mostly made in China.
Malcolm McLean died in 2001 in New York aged 87.
Ghost Container oil painting 16 x 20 ins
Standard 8 1950s film box and reel Oll painting 20.5 x 30.5 cm
Patterson 1960s film slide storage box Oil painting 20.5 x 30.5 cm
PART 2
Empire Daze. Oil painting 140 x 180 cm
Doorways oil painting 30.5 x 40.5 cm
Sisal Factory Oil Painting 18 x 20 ins
The sisal farming industry in Kenya has experienced an upturn since the early 2000’s following a decline from the 1960’s.
A renewed enthusiasm for natural materials has partly driven this as a response to climate change ethics.
There are several stages from growing to product.
This painting is based in a big open sided building where the material is sorted and bundled then compressed into metre square cubes.
Evan Coke Kiosk oil painting 10 x 14ins
This shop is in Hardy, Nairobi Kenya.
Coca Cola’s imprint in Africa is a big one . It was introduced there in the early 1900’s.
The West African Kola nut was an original source of caffeine apparently, although not now.
The success of this carbonated sugary drink is largely down to making it local.
Coca Cola sells a concentrate to licensed bottlers. There are over 100 factories in Africa.
Fanta was developed in a German Coca Cola bottling company in 1940.
The orange colour varies in different parts of the world, as do the ingredients.
Outdoor Pool Hall, Hardy. 10 x 14 ins
Model of Pool Hall Hardy H 15cm W 30cm D 24cm
Conversation in the Variety Store, Speightstown, Barbados, on the way to the Whim.
The Whim! Are you sure you are going to the Whim now?
It’s gonna be dark soon. You not wanting to be going to the Whim when its dark.
Leacocks’ Variety Store 29 x 40 cm
Part 3
281 to 285 Bethnal Green Rd
The building here was demolished in 2020,following a planning proposal from 2017 for a hotel and cinema with rooftop bar that so far hasn’t happened.
The building was originally designed by Phillip Tree in 1913 as Smarts Picture House.
Remodelled in 1939 in art deco style by George Coles opening as the Rex Cinema.
The cinema closed in 1964 and became a bingo hall.
The building was used from 1990 by Frank Trimmings, a supplier to the rag trade.
The Old Rex Cinema, Bethnal Green Rd Oil Painting 12 x 16 ins
The Gap between Attaboy and Emjay Decor Oil Painting 12 x 16 ins
Westhope Entrance/Lobby Oil Painting 41 x 26 cm
Dawn Oil Painting 8 x 10 ins
Steps Oil Painting 9 x 10 ins
Ruocco Tailors. Oil Painting 120 x 160 cm
Empty Chair Oil Painting 16 x 20 ins
Shaolin Temple UK. Oil Painting 16 x 20 ins