The Holbeck and Hunslet experience
Apologies in that I am a little late in adding to this blog, mainly because I can't get up to see my designated postcode until the 9th April.
But I have been commiting to lots of different areas of research, like the provenance of the names; Holbeck for instance comes from Hol and Beck, both relating to the river (like almost every town and village in England!) and it has a Village status, despite looking more like urban and industrial sprawl.
Not sure if I am getting my wires crossed, but Holbeck also claims to have housed one of the 07/07 bombers, so maybe everywhere in Leeds is cashing in on that association?
From the innitial research into the history and the museums there, I found it difficult to create interesting images of anything except rivers, armour or factories.
So instead I got really interested in the idea of observing people that live in the area who can represent the history in a direct, or perhaps more metaphorical way. I liked what Rebecca Strain is doing, talking to the older generation. I want to gather information more from a certain cultural level than any specific image. On a par with taking pictures of all the chip shop owners, or pawn shop brokers, but I'm not sure yet. It might be more important to me how the image is finally made, like maybe as a carefully made etching, but of a decrepit looking warehouse or some out of date political statement sprayed on a wall...
...still thinking about it, and I reckon everything will become apparent in the three days that I am there for, snapping away on my camera.
Alex
2 Comments:
Becoming apparent...
All has become clear in my three days here in Leeds. The Hunslet, Hunslet carr, Belle Isle, and Middleton areas of LS10 are in general pretty similar. There is this strange emptiness about the place; drivers whizz through as fast as they can, and I was either regarded with scrutiny, or stared at from a distance. I paint a desolate picture, but it is a relatively normal amenable burb.
Hemmed in on oneside by industry, foundry, and containers with a dozen different languages scrawled on the sides, and by a large parkland on the other. It is then carved up by sweeping motorway and A roads.
Distinctions (where they could be found) came in the form of strange icons, or the very faces of the inhabitants on the streets, in pubs, or on the buses.
The icons that I collected images of (such as a faux historical bingo hall with decorative brick work, which had itself been usurped by its conversion into a pseudo-classical-styled pub)were never that in touch with the people themselves, or the history of the place. But I wanted to use them almost to explain the veneer that Hunslet has, if only in the randomness of these icons. Another wonder was a golden statue of an eagle, as high as myself, though probably cast in concrete, and more in kind of the statues of a french chateaux, than the M.O.T. offers the sign nearby was touting.
Then there were the curious faces that I came across; a viking on the bus, with slicked back blond hair and bushy handlebar moustache, and the 'bar flies' in the "Your Friendly..." local pub, that slowly warm to you, laugh that you are a tourist, that talk about the old foundry, and the dangerous jobs they would do there, and the people that still have the scars. Many of these 'characters' I immediately began to relate to the street names, and the historical associations that are common to all of Leeds, like st helen, and grim. But here they are represented by the faces of LS10. Even the ever present hooded figures that watched me everywhere I went, perched on fences, or passing on the other side of the road, reminded me of the mysterious genii cuculatii; the hooded figures on gravestones with unknown purpose, carrying a knife and an egg.
The final images, i think, will be a mixture of distinct icons and faces, each slightly to onside of the picture. this because LS10 seems to be obscurred, and difficult to look straight into the face of. you catch a glimpse of a face or a strange talisman from the corner of your eye, and then you accelerate, leaving it behind.
Hi Alex
Do you have any photos you could post on here for us all to see?
Also have you come to any decisions on the final design of your badge and how many versions there will be? we need to know for our budget and time management.
Thanks
Lucy
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