Installation & paintings along the Grand Union Canal and at Centrala, Birmingham.
Continuing my ongoing ‘investigation’ into some of Birmingham’s more unapparent areas, ‘Birmingham By Pass’ featured new works referencing my time spent along the canals and waterways of Digbeth.
The project became less about what I was painting and more about who I was meeting and what I was seeing along the way. These views were inserted into a physical collage at Centrala and updated weekly.
Acrylic, ink, dirt, mixed fabrics 230 x 107cm
Photo © Matthew Watkins
Installation views inside the gallery which is situated next to the canal.
"As I've walked, paddled, balanced but fortunately not swam my way across the canals I have many people to thank for all their help, companionship, perseverance, snacks, wetsuits, canoes, ladders, documentation, humour, moral support and guidance throughout... Many thanks to: Jenny Moore, Ian Rogers (GPA), Log Roper, Richard & Alicja (Centrala), Lisa Meyer, Phil Burrows (Friends of the Earth), Nick Cleaver (C&RT), Ben Waddington, Victoria Pattison-Willits, Kate McLauchlan, Andrew Wong, Amy McLauchlan, Adam Gale and always Matthew Watkins.
(Thank you also those who stopped to chat / gongoozle, in particular: Silent Steve, John & Joe and The Canadians)"
Photo © Matthew Watkins