The Narrow Way
I recently contributed several pieces to a free newspaper from Hackney Council and Wired Canvas. The Narrow Way is a guide to events going on in and around Hackney Central this summer...
Creative studio SDNA are looking to enhance Hackney Central’s character by illuminating its rich history
Putting together a public art strategy for Hackney Central whilst also running a successful creative studio might seem like a tall order, but that’s exactly what Valentina Floris and Ben Foot of SDNA have done. Drawing on Hackney’s rich past, not only in textiles but also horticulture (the Loddiges plant nursery, now the site of the Trelawney Estate, was once home to the largest hot house in the world), the design duo, who produce distinctive digital artwork, aim to encourage an evening economy in the Hackney Central area, whilst promoting the borough as the greenest, most colourful and multicultural in London.
“Our strategy’s mainly based on lighting because our company works with lighting projections,” says Valentina. “We developed it around 10 locations, but added some extra ones. They’ll be animated projections and innovative creative lighting. Through commissions and competitions involving local residents, artists, businesses and institutions, we hope to establish a creative network and a sense of ownership. We want to make the area more exciting, welcoming and safer. We want to enhance Hackney Central’s character.”
“It’s about taking pride in the area,” says Ben. “It’s not about coming in and changing everything, but trying to integrate. There are some great places here already. We want to bring people out in the evenings. There’s a versatility in it as well obviously, because it can change down the years, being digital. It’s something that can be taken on by other artists.”
In keeping with their ethos of “Exploring interaction within public spaces using emerging technologies and unusual presentation media”, the pair have already commissioned two pieces: a slide projection piece on Churchwell Path featuring the work of designer Anna Glover in static form, and an animated projection onto St Augustine’s Tower by illustrator Bryan Pool. As Ben points out, Hackney’s botanical and textile history is a perfect metaphor for the borough’s multiculturalism.
“It’s a fairly lose brief: you should be referencing the history of Hackney and something that fits within textile design,” he explains. “Textiles come from all around the world; the plants come from all around the world. There’s an openness, culturally, there.” “All the visual inspirations come from tropical plants, mixed with the fashion industry and textiles,” adds Valentina. “Something like the Hackney Fashion Hub will obviously be referencing this history too.”
Ben and Valentina’s attempts to establish a dialogue between past and present is being done in a contemporary way, but both become misty eyed when reminiscing about first coming to Hackney, which for Ben was over 20 years ago.
“It’s always been very colourful,” he says. “When I first arrived there was already an artists community here. It’s just built and built and it draws more and more people in, simply because you’re surrounded by creative people. I think the rapid change that’s happening now is interesting as well, that’s been happening since I came here. It feels like it’s always in flux.”
Valentina puts it succinctly: “It’s the cultural aspect as well. It’s very inspiring.”
Morning Lane's popular Brew for Two is coming to St John-at-Hackney
Elyem Binboga, proprietor of the Tea for Two café on Morning Lane, jokingly refers to herself as the community gossip. “But in a nice way,” she says. “This June we’ve been here for two years. There are always meetings taking place here: the church, new businesses and developments. I witness this and get a lot of information. I’m open about sharing it, I’ve almost become an information centre for what’s happening around here.”
Which is fitting because Binboga will soon be opening a new café, in the information centre in the grounds of St John at Hackney, as part of the church’s ongoing desire to “Open our building for wider business and community use” says Fr Rob Wickham. She’s optimistic for a 12 July opening.
“I think it’s still going to be called Brew for Two, but maybe ‘Brew for Two in the Churchyard’ or something similar, because it’s going to be an extension in a way,” she says. “I think we’re going to be doing things gradually, making sure the building’s in keeping with the wishes of the church and the council. We’ll have to start as a takeaway, there isn’t a closed space where you can eat and drink, but we’ll be looking to cater or offer our services to individuals who benefit from the church – weddings, etc. We’re hoping to do things like waffles and crepes and burgers, a healthy, Brew for Two-style alternative to chicken and chips. People who have found out about it are really excited. It will be really nice to have somewhere to grab a bite to eat whilst enjoying the church grounds, or an ice cream for the children.”
How does she see the wider role of the café in the community?”
“It will bring people together, a meeting place, a gathering point. Once we have a closed space we want to keep the supper club idea we’re already doing at Brew for Two, where we invite local street food stall holders who want to start their own little kitchen, to use the premises to run their supper club. If we can get permission we’d like to hold outdoor film events, so we can show films for children or films from different countries, so we can really bring people together and be at the heart of the community, I hope. ”
Binboga emigrated to Hackney from Turkey with her family in the late 1980s and has spent the majority of her adult life in the borough. How does the Hackney of today differ? “It’s changed dramatically: it’s become friendlier; it’s become more cosmopolitan,” she says proudly. “It’s become more arty, more creative and much more pleasant for families with children. I love Hackney.”
Hackney Central will soon become the focal point for the borough’s enviable fashion reputation
With a rich history as the centre of London’s textiles industry in the 1800s, to its position today as one of Europe’s most exciting hotbeds of new and established fashion talent, the borough of Hackney could be considered a ‘fashion hub’ in itself.
Now construction on an actual fashion hub is underway on Morning Lane. Framed by two seven storey landmark buildings designed by Adjaye Associates, the hub will include retail outlet space – some of which has already been snapped up by revered British brands such as Aquascutum and Pringle – high quality food and drink outlets and pedestrianised and open spaces, encouraging people to visit and remain in the Hackney Central area.
But it’s not just about buildings; it’s about people. The development will create hundreds of jobs, including sales, manufacturing, hospitality and security roles, the majority of which will be filled in conjunction with Hackney’s Ways into Work scheme, which connects businesses with local residents looking for work. The scheme will also be offering apprenticeships and training opportunities.
Fledgling designers and start-ups will be supported via a ‘Stitching Academy’ and a subsidised manufacturing and sampling space. The former will provide a fascinating crossover with the apprenticeship scheme, with willing participants able to gain sewing and stitching, machinery operation, inspecting and measuring and health and safety skills.
Hackney Fashion Hub will be the focal point for the borough’s rich heritage and its continued and enviable international reputation as a fashion force.
