Rachel Pepper from Artification on street art that's making an impact in W3

Monumental art is now a feature of Acton. Against a backdrop of transformation in the town, street art has found a place for expression for decades.  Over recent years this has taken the form of increasingly epic art works.

Speaking to local people over the years, there has been a really positive reception to the art being created.  One resident said: “The artwork has certainly brightened up South Acton. People smile as they pass the giant picturesque birds. And the huge figure of mother child on Charles Hocking House is marvellous. Seen as far as Chiswick from the tube, and I believe from aircrafts coming into Heathrow. All artworks on buildings should be encouraged for residents to enjoy.”

The pace of regeneration in South Acton has meant that we have recently lost seven pieces of art from the likes of ATM, Zabou, Teddy Baden and Sr.X.  The first piece by SHIFT was painted in 2005, and with the recent demolition of Hardy Court this year, the neighbourhood lost the much of its public art.

Until now…  After some time planning and consulting with local people about their preferred artist and design, Spring 2017 saw the making of one of the tallest pieces of street art in the UK emerge on Barwick House in South Acton.

One hundred meters away on sister block, Charles Hocking House, stands the highly acclaimed ‘Big Mother’ created by Stik in 2014 and standing 40 meters high.

Both of these striking pieces make a huge and bold statement.  These are bright and confident declarations about art and expression in a time of change.  Stik poignantly references the impact of life for families in a transforming city, whilst Thierry adds colour and fun with his ‘Message to the children of London.’

“If you paint on the street you are immediately political, because you change the life of the people. Especially in north Europe where the winters are long and grey – you give people a one second smile on their face,” (Noir).

A little about the artist: Thierry Noir is one of the forerunners of modern street art, although he still remains relatively unknown. … In order to paint quickly and avoid arrest, Noir simplified his figures into one continuous line painted with one or two bright colours, what he calls the “Fast Form Manifest”.  Even today, Noir’s bold lines carry a strong message of resistance through art, making him one of the forbearers of today’s political street art scene. … The artist continues to paint in the same stylised way he developed in the Eighties, even recreating the same animals and figure heads he painted thirty years ago. (Excerpt from piece in The Independent, 2014)

ARTification is based in Acton and has delivered innovative, empowering arts experiences since 2003 having built a reputation as a trusted, community rooted cultural organisation. We coordinate community art projects, working with local residents, artists, Ealing Council, local community groups and more recently with Acton Gardens.  The creation of street art on this scale requires joint efforts and partnership working, and we are thankful to all involved in playing their part in enlivening the neighbourhood with art.

Rachel Pepper, Director, ARTification

See more on the making of the Noir piece here

For more information:  www.artification.org.uk

7 June 2017