One of the capital’s favourite food destinations, London Bridge thrives with the bustle of restaurants, pavement cafes, pubs and street vendors. From the sizzle of a kebab to chatter between friends, food for every taste, occasion and mood undoubtedly sits at the heart of the area’s distinct soundscape.
Following an exciting commission by the LFA and Team London Bridge earlier this year, we are delighted to unveil artists Nick Woodford, Matthew McGuinness and Jason Page‘s colourful celebration of this unique and ever-evolving identity – a new piece of public art, created in collaboration with London Bridge restauranteurs at Honest Burger, Comptoir Libanais, Nine Lives bar and Pizza Pilgrims, and delivered in partnership with UK Power Networks and Network Rail.
Wrapped around the facade of an otherwise easily overlooked substation, this striking mural is both generated by and reflective of the drinks and dishes at the heart of local livelihoods. Built upon conversations with local food hubs, the trio’s piece captures these food stories, using bright colours and harnessing the power of onomatopoeia to create an unmissable addition to Bermondsey Street’s street- and soundscape.
With this, the mural – now nicknamed Buzz – not only offered these businesses a creative platform to express themselves, but has also created a fun and engaging way for visitors, passers-by and foodies to discover more about this emerging food scene. Bringing this soundscape to life, Buzz marries the consistent hum of electrical current with the frenzy of the surrounding food hubs; turning its own quiet hum into the backing track for the clatter of plates and clinking glasses.
Nick Woodford, one of the collaborating artists, said:
“Chatting with local restaurateurs, we saw a strong theme emerge around their journeys of food discovery. As we developed this exciting project in collaboration with the LFA and Team London Bridge, the substation offered us the opportunity to capture and share these from a new creative perspective – a canvas from which to transmit a sense of the audible energy behind the diverse local food culture.”
Have you spotted this colourful creation along Bermondsey Street yet? You can see the substation’s exact location here, so next time you’re enjoying breakfast, brunch or dinner in London Bridge, we’d definitely recommend stopping by!
Plus, don’t forget, we always love to see your installation photos, so make sure to share using #WhatABuzz.
All Images © Agnese Sanvito
