#vipul sangoi

[ivanhoeresidents]

Peckham War Horse Project - photo re-enactment

An iconic July 1915 street scene photo-postcard of horses being prepared for the WWI front line was re-enacted and photographed on 11th May 2015 in Lyndhurst Way, SE15. It all came together with help from the The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and lots of locals tending to everything from costumes to free food. Joey the horse puppet from the War Horse stage production at New London Theatre made an appearance in Lyndhurst Way SE15, as did three local primary schools and the Mayor of Southwark Cllr Sunil Chopra. RainDesign's Vipul Sangoi took his re-enactment photos from a cherry picker elevated above Lyndhurst Way (at Chadwick Road) while scores took pictures below. Sangoi’s submitted image was treated with a sepia effect.

Brainchild of artist and social historian Melissa Jo Smith, who lives in Lyndhurst Way, the venture was planned as the Peckham War Horse Project, and has been supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Peckham and Nunhead Community Council Neighbourhoods Funds. According to Smith, everyone who's seen the photo has been been inspired.

The 1915 photo which led Smith to organise the re-enactment was taken by Frederick Alfred Finch of Rye Lane and depicted some of the Camberwell Division of R. F. A. - there was a division based at Camberwell at that time. The site Europeana 1914-1918 notes the photo depicts horses "tethered in Lyndhurst Road ... to escape infection at temporary stables at Gordon's Brewery." It is clearly Lyndhurst Way but now as then, the soldiers and horses seem incongruous in it. And the trees have grown lots in 100 years!

The Project also involved primary school students who learned about the First World War and the importance of the Finch postcard while taking part in art workshops at venues such as Peckham Platform. See the Peckham War Horse Project page (http://on.fb.me/1cJto8O ) and event (http://on.fb.me/1zWa5U9) for other pictures. For a higher resolution version of the 1915 photo (by clicking into it) go to http://bit.ly/1Iupei8.

Read more background from The Peckham Peculiar on Tumblr: http://bit.ly/1K2ux92

Coverage in the Southwark News at: http://bit.ly/1Hj7CoZ

We round out this blog posting with several more photos featuring Bellenden Primary School, Joey War Horse, and locals in period costume.

[briongysin]

Shezad Dawood, The New Dream Machine Project (Light Sculpture, brushed steel fluorescent lights, electronic motor and 16mm film) / photo credit Vipul Sangoi

“The inspiration behind Dawood’s project begins with the painter Brion Gysin’s (1916 – 1986) prototype Dream Machine, created in the early 60s upon his return from Morocco. Fabricated in Fez, as an homage to Gysin, the kinetic light sculpture is designed to emit kaleidoscopic light pulses similar in effect to alpha waves produced by the brain to induce states of unconsciousness. An additional part of Dawood’s project is a concert featuring the acclaimed Bedouin: Master Musicians of Jajouka, who were the house band at Gysin’s 1001 Nights restaurant, which he opened in Tangiers in 1954 with Mohamed Hamri. The concert also pays tribute to Rolling Stones founder Brian Jones’ cult album Brian Jones Presents the Pipes of Pan at Joujouka (1973), made after Jones was introduced to the musicians whilst in Tangiers with Gysin and Hamri. Contemporary British guitarist Duke Garwood plays Brian Jones’ role, alongside the current ensemble of The Master Musicians of Jajourka, led by Bachir Attar. Built using local craftsmen, in association with L’appartement 22, the work makes manifest a network of cultural, seemingly chance encounters spanning time and geography.”