It sums up a stillness, a sadness and a romantic passion that breathes in this show but you won't notice it straight away. Instead you'll be carried along in a rush of cheeky provocations and ludicrous juxtapositions of word and image: a joyous embrace of modern life or even, pardon my French, a jouissance. The pictures tower and expand in this perfect brutalist setting as if you're walking through a city of art a dirty, disreputable city.
For Anastasiia, war is an everyday part of life. The 17-year-old lives in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, where captured Russian tanks line the city's historic St. Michael's square, a daily minute of silence pays tribute to the war dead, and sirens pierce the air when a Russian missile attack is imminent. "The war has influenced us a lot. It changes our pace of life, the conditions in which we work," Anastasiia explains about the conflict now stretching into its third year.
Martin expressed concerns about the rising crime and disorder in London, particularly mentioning incidents like shoplifting and phone-snatching that seem to occur without repercussions. He emphasized the need to address these issues at the lower levels of the justice system.
Street art, like other forms of art, seeks to express creativity and culture, whereas tags often feel like mindless scrawls that detract from the beauty of the city.
Rohan Pandey, a 19-year-old security guard, diligently watches a garage door, ensuring it remains accessible, as part of his understated role in maintaining street order.