Year: 2022 | Keywords: public space, video making, fisheye lens, urban narratives, transience, memory of place
Maida Hill Diaries
What sensations arise as I navigate the public realm? How do I navigate and carve out my presence in the urban landscape? Particularly, how does a woman assert herself in a public sphere often dominated by men? These queries sparked my exploration of Maida Hill Place, an unassuming yet bustling junction nestled amidst five streets, a mere five minutes from my London home.
Though outwardly unremarkable, I find intrigue in the dynamic ephemerality that unfolds at metropolitan crossroads and the myriad, disjointed narratives woven by the individuals passing through or briefly pausing. My aim is to delve into a form of "urban impressionism" in this project. Drawing inspiration from the photographic artistry of David Hockney, specifically his collage-based examination of the spatial and temporal fragmentation imprinted in the memory of a place, I seek to capture the essence of Maida Hill Place.
“Man dwells when he can orientate himself within and identify himself with an environment, or, in short, when he experiences the environment as meaningful. Dwelling therefore implies something more than ‘shelter’. It implies that the spaces where life occurs are places, in the true sense of the word. A place is a space which has a distinct character.”
