Proposal

Introduction

It is very interesting how we can use a space and inhabit it, or go through somewhere and realize just how unaware we are of it. I believe that if you look for something new you will always see something different.

From my very first visit to the Westway I knew there was something important in the physical form of this site - the way it producess and affects the light, darkness and shadows whilst journeys and time run a very different course through it. There is a stark contrast between the solidness of the structure with the lives that are lived and intertwined within it.
It is with this insight that I have developed a proposal which will bring together through these themes a new perspective to the diversity of life and site at the constant yet ever-changing Westway.

Phase 1

I propose to build a 'life sized' pinhole camera and lab which will photgraph the Westway and its inhabitants. I am not trying to recreate the Westway in photographic form as much as capture the beauty of light, darkness, shadow, movement, journey and time in what is often described as an 'ugly and hostile' environment.

Click for larger image

The camera lab

If you are not familiar with pinhole photography you can find out more in the technical section.

The camera lab will measure 2m² x 2m²

If you look at the scale model you can get an idea of the scale in relation to members of the public.

This scale makes an impact - it is large enough to stop people in their tracks, without disrupting the flow of people greatly. The structure can be folded down and stored at the end of each days work. This also allows me to work on site so people can follow the whole process of what I am doing.

The picture will then be developed within the structure so that it can be viewed immediately.

For safety and practicalities there will need to be two people on site at all times.

People

For those who are interested in having a go I will be handing out 'shoe box' cameras so thay can produce their own pictures which I can develop for them, displaying the images on the outside surfaces of the camera lab.

Lighting conditions

Ideally I would prefer to do this work on bright sunny days so that optimum results can be achieved i.e. the type of images I wish to produce. Alternatively I can investigate lighting but this could greatly complicate proceedings and would be costly.

Site

The camera lab is site specific in terms of it being based around and under the Westway. I do not have any designated 'plots' for where it will be at any given time, preferring the freedom of making this decision of each day. This allows me to capture different and varying aspects of the area between Latimer Road an Westbourne Park tube stations.

Images

The images I produce could be up to 1m x 1.75m in size. I will be able to process them on site for an immediate result and they will be produced directly onto photographic paper. Taking the form of black-and-white negatives I have chosen not to change these prints from their negative form, for the simple reason that the quality of the image is unlike anything achievable in the standard photography that we are used to viewing.

Phase 2

This involves displaying the images. Here is a photo of how the images could be displayed. The images could be hung like the existing signs for amenities at the Westway. This phase involves further investigation and discussion.

Costs/Expenses

The estimated cost of the project is £1,015.00. Click here for a breakdown of this cost.