“Everyone is either phone starring or unfocused, elsewhere. Because there is something intensely privat about the Tube. Everyone surrounded, but alone, cramped, fixed in spot, but loose, in thought, between things: these are the faces of people worrying and dreaming” (Judah, 2016, p.108)  

 

This description of the London Underground's atmosphere by the author Ben Judah is incredibly accurate and similar to the one I kept having throughout my daily travels between home and college. It became an indispensable ritual to sketch the underground's unknown passengers, probably the most important "raw material" I gathered. Besides that, In my late paintings, I was also trying to depict that same atmosphere that Ben Judah so well described. So in the end, the underground was not only the main source of my sketches, it became something more than that. 

 

“(...) was never properly planned but just sort of sprawled, and because it was built over the curse of 140 years , it is far more revealing of the history and character of the city it serves than any of the above systems.” (Martin, 2012, p.4)

 

The underground is a fundamental part of the city of London. Its colours and map are unique. Among other elements, the London underground is also part of the city's soul.  

 

Artists and authors

 

Ian Sinclair

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Ben Judah

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Mark Mason

 

Books, exhibitions and others

 

Martin, A (2012) Underground Overground. London: Profile Books LTD

 

Coverley, M. (2006) Psycogeography. Herts: Oldcastel books

 

Glaeser, E. (2012) Triumph of the City. London: Penguin Books

 

Judah, B. (2016) This is London. London: Picador

 

Greene, J. (2014) Moral Tribes. London: Penguin Books

 

Taylor, C. (2011) Londoners. London: Granta Publications

 

Sinclair, I. (2017) The Last London. London: Oneworld Publications

 

Mason, M. (2011) Walk the Lines. London: Arrow Books