Build It Up, Michael Iveson & Richard Woods

An immersive joint exhibition from Michael Iveson and Richard Woods at ASC Gallery.

There was a sign strapped to the traffic lights half way down the Walworth road that simply said "Build it Up". It was about A3 size.

The graphics reminded me of the sort of temporary sign you see somewhere near the north/ south circular usually accompanied by a mobile phone number that I’m assuming is inviting you to take part in a rave. But its close proximity to the massive urban regeneration of the Elephant and Castle also gave the sign a link to massive gentrification programme transforming the area.

I googled the term and discovered that the top two searches were firstly a 1998 Fat Boy Slim club anthem "Build it up, Tear it Down" and the second was a UK parliament paper "Build it Up, Sell it Off" which describes the rise and fall in social housing since 1890.

I’m not sure if the researchers of the white paper were aware of the Fat Boy Slim song or if the designer of the Walworth Road poster was aware of either the Parliament White Paper or the song but I’m assuming they were aware of the construction site that is engulfing the area. I enjoyed the link between the two and I hope you enjoy this two person show.

Richard Woods, 2018