The main themes I grasped onto were:
- Contrasts: textures, materials, joints, facades, types of buildings.
- Meanings of a construction crane
- Artificialness/Fabrication
During the summer of 2012, I was aware of the housing situation around Stratford and had frowned upon it greatly. However, I became swept up in the hype of the olympics and therefore forgot about the livelihoods of the people in the area. The social housing has all been left to deteriorate. One of the main sites that truly took me aback was seeing the attempted efforts of creating a park that would bring the community together, after having seen the incredible complex nature of the playgrounds in the olympic park. This reflected some sort of misappropriation of funds where the citizens outside of the park have been left with a lack of funding for improvement of their area.
Another detail I noticed was that at many joints in the ground, every element surrounding it was different. The contrast of materials, textures and colours were very sharp and different and reflected what the Olympic park was supposed to show: everywhere you turn there is a new material element. I think this aspect is all shown in the art trail that is set around the park, which does bring nice surprises as you ponder around the park.
The main contrast that I couldn't ignore was the social housing side by side the increasing number in newly built luxury housing perched in with the cranes. Yet again this was striking and sad to see that from the small patch of original housing it was a ghost town, everything mobile, some buildings abandoned... waiting to be bulldozed over and replaced.It was uncomfortable knowing that behind these houses, a 5 minute walk from the area there was a flow of people exploring the wonders of the olympic park and in awe of its almost perfection, simultaneously not seeing the underlying history of the park that lay right behind.
Moving onto the main show: The Crane. These constructive, yet destructive creatures encircled the park. Wherever you focused your eye, a crane would always peer from the distance. A sight that has an extensive number of meanings.I felt it was a sign of higher authority, one that cannot be broken. This element was going to play a prominent role in my project.
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| Tumbling Bay Playground |
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Another detail I noticed was that at many joints in the ground, every element surrounding it was different. The contrast of materials, textures and colours were very sharp and different and reflected what the Olympic park was supposed to show: everywhere you turn there is a new material element. I think this aspect is all shown in the art trail that is set around the park, which does bring nice surprises as you ponder around the park.
The main contrast that I couldn't ignore was the social housing side by side the increasing number in newly built luxury housing perched in with the cranes. Yet again this was striking and sad to see that from the small patch of original housing it was a ghost town, everything mobile, some buildings abandoned... waiting to be bulldozed over and replaced.It was uncomfortable knowing that behind these houses, a 5 minute walk from the area there was a flow of people exploring the wonders of the olympic park and in awe of its almost perfection, simultaneously not seeing the underlying history of the park that lay right behind.
Moving onto the main show: The Crane. These constructive, yet destructive creatures encircled the park. Wherever you focused your eye, a crane would always peer from the distance. A sight that has an extensive number of meanings.I felt it was a sign of higher authority, one that cannot be broken. This element was going to play a prominent role in my project.
As I hunted for found objects, something I thought that would be easy to find, turned out to be a challenge. 'The olympic park is incredibly well groomed' is what constantly went through mind on the hunt. I may have overlooked things as it is a very large park but The only objects I managed to take were leaflets and a twig. I could not find an object that could show the legacy of the olympics. This reflection made me realise the artificialness of the place. As I couldn't take anything away from it, it seemed nothing could be tampered with (e.g. moving a stone off of its path) because everything was strictly in its place. I guess this is a good thing that the park is incredibly well kept, however it was too well groomed, it felt false to me. This prompted the question of 'Where is the history of the Olympics?'. For me, I only saw this within the structure of all the events' buildings. The olympic memories seemed to be eradicating, especially as the main attraction: the Olympic Stadium, was being refurbished, stripped of its true identity.
It just appeared to be another extravagant park, not a historical landmark.
I was able to keep a twig.
Other than observing through a camera and note taking of visuals, I also observed the sounds and smells of the park. The most distinct smell I came across was the chlorine from the pool mixed with overwhelming heat. In some pockets of the park, the deafening noise of construction and lorries reversing was present. Especially by the velodrome where the noise continued to echo all around.
Every time I came across a Bus Art sculpture, in line with the theme everyday olympics, I felt either the frustration of when an electrical appliance fails (when unexpectedly seeing a sculpture I wasn't fond of) or the joy of when the appliance begins to function again (seeing a sculpture I was fond of).
I may have given an exaggerated reaction on my walk, but these are just a few passing thoughts.
Overall, from this visit I left the park with a completely different perception of the Olympic park. The true infrastructure of the area was unmasked. To me it felt like I had seen the skeleton of the whole park. I saw the main unwrapped structure that upheld the 2012 olympics. Without the people, advertisements, smells of food, merchandise etc.. everything that made the olympics what it was... had all disappeared. I still question if this is a good or bad thing. Does the atmosphere and memories of the 2012 olympics have to be something of exclusivity? Or is it supposed to be a period to remember constantly, for example keeping the original structures, continuing to include olympic style events? Or is the memory of the olympics is just supposed to be remembered in the way the individual wants to remember it by?
My memories of a gratifying, lively, friendly, energised Olympic park are still with me, although I realised I was only living in a bubble. Today, that bubble was burst as I uncovered gloomy details of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
