“In truth taking time to note the character of the less prominent landmarks is a habit that takes effort to cultivate. It is only common in three groups of people I have walked with: artists, experienced soldiers and indiginous peoples.” (Gooley, 2014, p.11)
Just like we associate the underground to the city, it’s impossible to talk about London without mentioning its parks. Hyde park, Hampstead Heath, Battersea park among others. It is a way to hide momentary form the crowds, the movement, the modernized fast paced way of living.
“With home today so full of technology, Worpole believes that in the modern age parks may have to “function much like churches once did”, as places for solitude and sanctuary”. (Elborough, 2016, p. 319)
I wanted, through my park depictions, to illustrate the existence of that closeness to nature in the middle of the city. My research led me to the landscape, the impressionists and their way of working “en plein air”.
According to David Hockenys, when painting landscape the artist is “depicting the processes of life. That's what landscapes really are” (Hockney, 2021, p.154)
I became particularly drawn to elements like trees and lakes.
Later, in my park series I also started to incorporate ideas of emptiness and mapping, ideas that developed as long as I was sketching and painting.
Artists and authors
William Turner
David Hockney
Ian Sinclair
Ben Judah
Mark Mason
Travis Elborough
Robert Mcfarlane
Tristan Gooley
Books, exhibitions and others
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
Taylor, C. (2011) Londoners. London: Granta Publications
Sinclair, I. (2017) The Last London. London: Oneworld Publications
Elborough, T. (2017) A walk in the Park. London: Vintage
Gooley, T. (2016) A Walker’s Guide to Outdoor Clues & Signs. London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
Mcfarlane, R. (2012) The Old Ways. London: Penguin Books