Wednesday, November 03, 2004

Wonky, Bloggit and Dickensian


lambethwalk
Originally uploaded by wastedpapiers.
Where we used to live in Lambeth before the place was gentrified. the photographer made the biuldings look even wonkier than they were to make them look like they would fall down any minute, which ofcourse was quite unnecessary as they looked like this in most peoples eyes anyway!
I've just started another blog called "obscure" (see links) that is my contribution to Vittore Baroni's "Year of Obscure Actions". It was Hazel's idea really - she noticed a nice book about the backs of photographs in the library whilst researching artist's books for her students and this gave me the idea. How obscure and at the same time not obscure. I always like the backs of paintings, especially abstracts which seemed far more interesting than the fronts! I love the backs of lots of Joseph Cornell's box constructions as usually they had a collage that was just as fascinating as the front view. When trying to frame postcards its a hard choice whether to choose the picture side or the writing side with the stamps and frankings etc. both of which are equally important and note-worthy.

9 comments:

Jonathan said...

Michael- I like that obscure site... it appears to be the obscure obverse.

mrdantefontana said...

A very short interview with Michael is to be found here:
http://easydreamer.blogspot.com/2004/11/a1.html

Scrapatorium said...

I like your Obscure site idea! Maybe you can start a group on Flickr sometime. Might be fun.

amiethinggoes said...

artist!artist!artist! back of a painting, postcards...? i never thought of looking an art in that way. pretty interesting.

Wastedpapiers said...

Thanks for all the positive feedback. A Flickr group about "Obscure Obverse" images might be fun Angelica but I can't see many people taking part! But, after all these nice comments maybe they will?

Wastedpapiers said...

S'funny how everyone latched onto the Obscure Obverse bit of the blog and ignored the row of funny wonky houses! I was hoping for some chance to paint in some history and myths and drop some names. It was surprising we had any visitors atall looking at this photo but apparently it was the home of one of the great train robbers during the 60's and a gaming club and brothel before being turned into a factory that made things on lathes (the bolt holes could be still be seen on the concrete floors downstairs). When we lived there we had Emma Freud ( a distant relative of the psychoanalyst) interviewing Sir Clive Sinclair and Hazel (two inventors) round our living room table for a BBC radio 4 programme. Also Harry Hill, a Telly Tubby and Ivor Cutler came for tea ( not on the same day ). Not to mention all the infamous mail artists from all over the globe who turned up on our doorstep!

Wastedpapiers said...

Always nice to hear your wonky observations Jilly. About time you wrote some more on your blog?

Jonathan said...

I've got a shot of #71, with you barely visable at the window... I'll try to find it and have Syl scan it to you...

Wastedpapiers said...

We should like to see that Jonathan. I never did take many photos of the outside mainly because I always thought I might get mugged for the camera! It was that sort of area.