As threatened, here’s another set of snaps from a recent walk around the neighbourhood, traversing the length-and-breadth of Penge and as far as Anerley and the borders of Beckenham. Shops, garages, car parks, alleyways, hoardings…nowhere escapes the spray can in our enclave of south-east London.
Seriously considering handing over the front of our house. These pieces bring me so much joy!
Nine months of enjoying Penge’s vibrant street art scene, and I’m still discovering new works all the time. These shots are from a recent amble. I found so many good ‘uns that there’ll be another post hot on this one’s heels…
As well as enjoying the murals, I’ve been making regular use of Alexandra Rec as part of my new jogging route, and taking the short train journey to my favourite reading spot in Brockwell Park’s walled garden. The last couple of months have been focused on taking more time for relaxation, mindfulness and quiet. Trying to be present. Trying to avoid the incessant noise and the tyranny of choice that comes with every decision. It’s a work-in-progress. But turning my phone off and strolling the streets with my camera is part of this renewed effort – and I couldn’t think of a better place to do it…
After a stressful 6 months, we finally moved into our new pad: a little terraced house in glorious Pengé-a-la-mer (or Penge, for the uninitiated). We already love it here – it’s got such a great community vibe, our neighbours are great, and we’re a stone’s throw from the dinosaurs in Crystal Palace Park (who wouldn’t covet that!). There’s a well-stocked deli, lots of craft beer bars, proper high street Christmas lights, corner shops where we know the owners’ names, parakeets in the trees, and a weekly food market. Of course, there are downsides too….but I struggle to think of them right now.
The best thing is that Penge is the street art capital of the world*. Over 1,150 artworks have been placed around SE20 over the last seven years, and at any one time there are over 400 to see. It takes 4-5 hours to get round them all! I’m in heaven.
I’ll be making regular photo dumps of the new ‘hood over the coming year, starting with these beauties…
*unverified
Whilst on holiday in Sardinia earlier this year, I spent a day in the fascinating town of Orgosolo. For many hundreds of years, this bandit town – hidden high in the hills of the Nuoro region – was a place to hide the kidnapped and elude the authorities. It would have remained an isolated and ignored hamlet, were it not for its inhabitants’ spirit of resistance and the artistic flair of a local teacher.
In the late ’60s, having successfully resisted the military’s plan to create a base on common land used by shepherds, a group of local political anarchists created a mural in the town commemorating the event. Francesco Del Casino, a local art teacher and communist, worked with disadvantaged youths to turn this isolated piece of art into a trend. Throughout the ’70s and ’80s, huge cubist graphics were created throughout the town – on walls and gates, window shutters and rocks – recounting a host of global social injustices, from Vietnam to Gaza, or calling for Sardinian independence.
The brightly coloured paintings and frescoes have been well-preserved, and artists now travel from across the globe to contribute to the spectacle. Some tell the story of the province’s customs and traditions, the rural way of life; others continue the anti-establishment, socio-political themes of the early works.
To see every mural (there are ~150) would take several hours, but you can pick up a map in the small central town square that helps you navigate the main streets and includes informative descriptions of over 70 works. Here are photos of a few of my favourites…
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