City Garden

Those with green fingers can create lush and fruitful gardens anywhere.

Vapour

Has vapouring been embraced in your city as much as it seems to have been here in London?

The Penguin in the Room

London is fast becoming too expensive for everyone to live.  Let's hope our new mayor can create more affordable housing.

A Balancing Act

It's the continuing the phone call that impressed me. 

Cool and Hip

One very stylish gal spotted in Brick Lane.

Pavement Art

Street art on the pavement.

Flirtation

A passing moment on the street.  He was promoting a nearby restaurant, she was passing by.

The Gaze

Brick Lane is known for its Indian restaurants and street art.  

The Street

A moment in Bricklane.

The Red Hat Women

When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people's garden
And learn to spit.

So begins the poem of Jenny Joseph, one of the inspirations for the Red Hat Society an organisation whose membership criteria is to be a woman of a certain age who wants to have fun, freedom, friendship, fulfilment and fitness.

Made in China: Factory Girls

Last night I went to the opening of Aowen Jin's new exhibition "Made in China: factory girls". Many documentaries and articles have been written and presented about those who work in Chinese factories, and the often poor working conditions.  In reality we know very little about the workers themselves, their families, their dreams and aspirations.

London based, Chinese born, artist Aowen Jin has spent the past two years getting to know the young women who work in the China's factories.  Aowen was angered by the western images that show Chinese workers as serious and dull.  She found that the workers themselves are disheartened by the western interpretation of them.  Anyone who has been to China knows that Chinese people are "as friendly and fun loving" as much as any other culture.  While not disputing that the conditions many work in do need to change, Aowen points out that many people in the west also do dull, boring, and repetitive jobs out of necessity.

"Made in china: factory girls" is an art installation that takes us into the lives of these young women, with their bright and bubbly personalities, and shows us their hopes and dreams for the future.

The work is presented on mobile phones allowing you to scroll through the images.

Accompanying the work is a documentary film showing interviews with the girls and commentaries from influential academics and cultural experts on China.

This is an exciting, intimate, and powerful body of work which is not to be missed.  I look forward to seeing how many of the aspirations and dreams of these young women are fulfilled as Aowen continues to document their lives until 2020.

Made in China: factory girls is showing at Bricklane Gallery E1 6SA until 23 September.

The Invisible Smoker

Caught my eye passing by.

Bargain Hunting

I was trying to find some pieces for a photograph project I am putting together, it was the stalls on the side streets off Bricklane that were the best. You can find anything here. I can report my bargain hunting was hugely successful and cost me all of £1.

Optimist

Preparing for the big sunshine we will have.

Pint of Art

Another glimpse at last weeks art fair. No she wasn't for sale. Cute though. Coloured pint bottles were for sale on the back of the milk truck.

Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair

Now in its seventh year, the art car boot fair is one of my favourite events in London. A chance to mingle with and buy works from established artists and emerging artists. Fun installations included smashing crockery in the Boules China shop throwing bricks at windscreens or tossing your ex into a car boot. Oh and did I mention the spanking?
I came away with a couple of treasures and calendar is marked for next year.

Pancake Day

Pancakes tossed by bears, policemen, strawberries, sun girls and many more.
Shrove Tuesday in Bricklane organised by alternative arts to raise money for London's air ambulance was loads of fun.

Bricklane

Bricklane ( ব্রিক লেন) the Bangladeshi quarter of London.
Names of places in the UK really are literal. Bricklane was where bricks were manufactured (in the 15th century) and the buildings are made of brick.
From bricks it moved to brewing beer and weaving and tailoring cloth.

All this colourful past is alive and well in the current markets. Petticoat Lane and Spitalfields.

Affordable Couture

Flicking through the magazines and newspapers the past few days I see flying saucer hats are where is at for dedicated followers of fashion this coming spring.
Hence why this little number caught my eye in a vintage clothing store near Bricklane.

Three

Three young boys in the London's East End.

Today aglimpseoflondon is three years old. I can't believe I have been wandering the streets for that long. I've barely scratched the surface of this amazing city in that time.
I hope you'll stay with me as I continue my fresheyes journey.