#London Stratford

[tran-anh]

Nana's House Installation, London College of Fashion - Community Co-Curator

Nana's House is an interactive living room installation, as part of Designed for Life which coincided with the opening of the new campus in Stratford, East London, UK.

The living room reflects and represents a broad heterogeneity of lives and experiences in East London told through a fictional family gathered on a Sunday afternoon at Nana's house, using artefacts and QR-linked soundscapes to represent each family member.

"Nana's one of a kind, and so is her house. It's Sunday afternoon, and her Leytonstone Victorian terrace is at capacity. Mum, dad, uncle and Grandad congregate around the jollof, but I'm more interested in the sweet, spiced tea and homemade samosas that have made a regular appearance here since we took in a lodger - an Indian-Muslim exchange student from Hyderabad.

My grandparents have lived here long before I was born. The walls tell the tale of an exuberant young textile worker arriving in London in 1960, fresh from Ondo State, Nigeria, with an infatuation with the latest in fashion and design. Over the years my mum has tried to add some modern toches; working in finance, she began to share her wealth in the late 80s with a new TV and sofa - much to the apathy of Grandad, who only believes in fixing what is broken.

Grandad was a print worker, a determined trade unionist whose career ended at age 48 with a labour dispute on Wapping High Street in 1987. A "real East Londoner born within earshot of the Bow Bells", he fought the resurgence of fascism around Ridley Road Market with the 62 Group and got bruised, whilst mourning the death of his and nana's first newborn, in battles against Oswold Mosely.

He tells stories of how he fell in love with Nana in 1961 to a soundtrack of Marvin Gaye. They triumphed against melancholy and fell deeper in love. In 1966, they celebrated the World Cup win for England together, of which West Ham players were an integral factor!

Having spent the summer away from my parents, I am inspired by the community and political strength of my grandparents. I collide with my parents' capitalist complicity - working in government and global trade; they mock my uncle who gave himself earnestly and entirely to the rave scene of Lea Valley." Soundbites of the family members: • A phone call to the lodger - shopping in Ilford as a Pakistani woman • Grandson - Teenage Frustrations • Grandad - The History Of An East London Print Worker • Nana - A Nigerian Matriarch • Uncle - Cultural History Of The East London Rave Scene • Mum - Affluence, Influence & Merit • Lodger - Far From Home • Bonus

Nana's House was created by lead curator Dr Leila Nassereldein and co-curated by community members Pallavi Chamarty, Omolara Obanishola, Dave Sohanpal and Anh Tran. Supported by Dr Michael McMillan

Artist's works featured around the living room: • Poppy Frean • Sahira Khan • Mercedes Halliday • Shama Kun • Brahim Bendaoud • Lydia Wood • Asim Khairdean • Toyin Gbomedo • John Curtis Films on the TV: • Looking for You - Anna Nguyen & Kristine Landon Smith • Sonia's Whitechapel - Hend Draz, Maya Leonavicius, Fangjiao Liu, Jake London, Angela Josephine Smith & Claire Wasson with special thanks to Sonia Sylvester • Radical Nostalgias - Mercedes Halliday • To Style a Life for Oneself (trailer) - Omolara Obanishola • Dress For Our Time: In conversation with Helen Storey and Michael Saunby - Helen Storey • Drawing Reality - TIGERs • Tarek’s Story - David Betteridge • Reflections from Za’atar - Helen Storey Special thanks to Sahira, Lord Tusk, Theresa, Tony Sullivan, Lee McKarkiel, Furniture Reuse, The Dovetail, Popup Garden Bookshop and Niquelle LaTouche Oct 2023 - Jan 2024

[sitegyals]

like if u save !!

[filmap]

All of Us Strangers Andrew Haigh. 2023

Building Victory Plaza, East Village, London E15 2ER, UK See in map

See in imdb

[haxanbroker]

Stratford, East London, August 2023.

[robert-painter]

Stratford

[ijustkindalikebooks]

I am just saying, my hometown is the only city to ever be fully excommunicated from the catholic church, it deserves one of these.

it needs one of these.

[bobbydigicam]

Good Friday | Carpenters Estate | Canon Powershot G3 | SOOC

[bitter69uk]

It was like a scene straight out of Sex and the City (or to be more au courant, And Just Like That) when the four of us met up last night for “Christmas Eve Eve” pizza’n’prosecco! Note that for some reason Pal and Alex N get the good lighting and looked polished and sassy, while Alex S and I look like lunatics?

[robotpussy]

love going to a area that was labelled as dangerous and run down and basically a UK ghetto only to find out it is now a gentrified artsy town where all the food is overpriced and everybody lives in overly expensive warehouses converted into studio apartments

[mangle-my-mind]

I just found out that a stage adaptation of Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell is being put on by the RSC and I will not be able to think of anything else for a while.

[boompopping]

Pokemon TCG and EC Toys vending machines in London Westfield shopping centre.

[0rjasm]

[richwall101]

Stratford - London 2019 - Fruit Crates on the Street - with Office and Apartment Towers.....

[dramatic-long-coats]

Oh, Ophelia

You've been on my mind girl since the flood

Oh, Ophelia

Heaven help a fool who falls in love

~Ophelia, The Lumineers

(This is exactly where I imagined Ophelia to die.)

[haxanbroker]

The Eagle pub, Stratford, East London, December 2023.

[robert-painter]

Carpenters Estate, Stratford