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| The old look - messy and uncoordinated |
Bidencope’s Lane backs onto what was once one of the most
exclusive shops in town with an international reputation for its hats and a
core business providing uniforms for soldiers, police and firemen. Joseph Bidencope, a tailor, had begun it in
1877 and although carried on by successive generations, it was finally sold in
1977. Since then new upmarket shops have opened around the front facing Murray
Street, but the rear of the premises had been neglected and were a prime target
for taggers and graffiti artists. The
mix of styles, the different ages and quality of the work, plus the fact
that it usually had to be carried out in haste and in secret – the Council has strict
policies about graffiti, meant that the end result looked messy and a bit sad, rather than
uplifting.
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| A bit of @lukansmith |
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| There is a mix of bold design and whimsical with many famous street artists represented |
This year the lane was the focus of the City Council's Vibrance
Youth festival and it has exploded with colour. Yes, it is still a mix of
styles featuring many famous street artists, but it is rather like a walk in
gallery. Even better, it has started to attract new shops. A tiny pop –up shop featuring
handmade produce is currently holding the fort until a coffee shop opens and
the whole lane is a much more attractive alternative to walking noisy, traffic
-choked Liverpool Street or even the busy CentrePoint Arcade.
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| "Knock gently"says the hidden door in this design by @brainfoetus |
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| Bold and bright by @tstella |
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| A more delicate design adorns this door - someone loves bees. They are also featured in a loading bay around the corner |
Speaking of the popup shop, it has two things in its favour –
for the four ladies who run it, it is a cheaper alternative to formally renting
space or even going to markets, and as far as the streetscape goes, it certainly
looks better than empty shops. Long may
they reign and bring life to hitherto dead corners.
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| Kirthy from Finland minds the store |
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| It's a bright spot in what used to be a wasteland and an eyesore |
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| Visitors come to admire the new work |
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| Easily recognisable - a bit of Tim O''Hearn's work. He has also outlined a whole wall here which has yet to be filled in. Apologies to the other artists whose work I don't immediately recognise. See more on the Vibrance Facebook page |
Could this be be the start of a flourishing lane culture?
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