Hackney Wick: the artists’ community.
I discovered Hackney Wick in 2014 and fell in love with its low urban sprawl of warehouses, old factories buildings and canals. It was June, the sun was bright in the blue sky and I felt as if I was in another country. It felt semi abandoned and in many of those buildings artists were quietly working away in their studios.
Hackney WickeD Art Festival
Two months later, in August, on a Sunday afternoon, I went to my first Hackney WickeD Festival 2014 and blogged about the amazing afternoon I had spent there. It was a buzzing affair with avant guard performance artists, live music and the artists studios to visit. It was also funded by the Arts Council for the first time.
Hackney WickeD 2014 Lord Napier pub. Artist Himbad at work. (photographed 3rd August 3014)
Hackney WickeD 2016
There was no festival in 2015, so I was excited to return last Sunday, 31st July and see what was happening this time around.
My first surprise was how quiet it was but the Lord Napier had had an amazing make-over. The artists had gone into overdrive to produce this wonderful display.
Hackney WickeD 2016: Lord Napier pasteups curated by Aida Wilde. Monkey face is by Mighty Mo with teeth by Sweettoof. Other artists include Donk, Malarky, and Mobstr. (photographed 31st July 2016)
Hackney WickeD 2016: Lord Napier makeover. Curated by Aida Wilde: Artist include Dscreet, Sweet Toof, Malarky, Donk and others. (photographed 31st July 2016)
One of the main purposes of Hackney WickeD is to allow the public to view the artists’ studios. And this year there were 10 studios open with people popping in and out. But I saw no street theatre or live music. I took this photograph from my 2014 visit.
Hackney WickeD 2014. Shutter is painted by Sweet Toof. (photographed 3rd August 2014)
And this venue wasn’t even open in 2016.
Hackney Wick. Shutter by artist Sweet toof. (photographed 31st July 2016)
I decided to make the best of things and check out the street art as it was months since my last visit. There is still plenty of magnificent street art which I will create a separate post about. I spotted these shutters and took a snap. And then I went for a closer look and on the wall between the left hand shutter and the middle one, where the graf is, I spotted something…
Hackney Wick 2016. Central shutter artists are: Cazer, 2Rise, Kaes and Cope. (graff writers not known) (photographed 31st July 2016)
Before my visit I had checked out the Hackney WickeD website and read about the #43 A Hackney WickeD art drop by artist Sean Worrell. 43 pieces of art painted on found pieces of wood were scattered across the area. It was a treasure hunt. As the festival runs over 3 days, Fri – Sun, I assumed that by 3.30pm on Sunday afternoon all the pieces would be found. But… I’d found one. I was so amazed that I forgot to snap it in situ.
I carried on with my hunt for street art but I was perturbed by the change in atmosphere which was due to the masses of demolition in the area. And only that morning a petition had come my way asking people to sign and Save Hackney Wick. Now I was witnessing why. The photographs tell the story better than I can in words.
Mural by Woozy from Hackney WickeD 2014. (photographed 3rd Aug 2014)
Hackney Wick, 2016. The Woozy Mural was where it says U Killin The ViBEZ. And there is SeedsOne tag too. (photographed 31st July 2016)
Simple but effective graff – Where did everybody go? Hackney Wick 2016. (photographed 31st July 2016)
All the way to Bow in the distance, they’ve demolished buildings on both sides of the road. Hackney Wick 2016 (photographed 31st July 2016)
Hackney WickeD 2014 created the Fish Island Riviera. The canal barge decorated by Sweet toof moored there. (photographed 3rd August 2014)
The faux tropical beach of the Fish Island Riviera from Hackney WickeD 2014. (photographed 3rd Aug 2014)
Hackney Wick 2016. This plot of land is now empty and awaiting the developers to start building. (photographed 31st July 2016)
I paused to watch these holiday makers take their barge through the lock. As did many others but overall, it was very quiet.
On the other side of the canal I saw this…
Hackney Wick 2016. The E20 Fishing Club is under threat too.
There was some great political street art from artists who’ve worked and lived in this area for a long time.
Hackney Wick 2016. Top sticker by The Real Dill. Drawing by Himbad. (photographed 31st July 2016)
“In 2008 before you got here” – this is a long established community.
Art work leaning against wall is by Skeleton Cardboard. (photographed 31st July 2016)
I went home with mixed feelings. I was heartbroken to see that this area is being dismantled slowly.
But quietly delighted with my piece of street art by Sean Worrell which I shall treasure. And maybe I went to the festival at the wrong time because the programme looked busier than I experienced. We shall see what 2017 brings and if there is still a thriving artist community then.
One of the works from #43 Art Drop by Sean Worrell. Found during Hackney WickeD 2016. (photographed 31st July 2016)
"Notice what you notice..." 
I can feel your sadness… I remember my discovery of Hackney Wick from the first moment I got off the No 30 bus having left Euston one day just to see what I would discover at the end of the route. It was quite a surreal discovery with the Olympic stadium and park being built so close by the tucked away artist community with their humble studios.. I could sense the encroachment of a way of life that was in the first stages of being engulfed by another world much like a cancer growth.. I was happy to have discoverd the hidden art quarter of Hackney Wick and Fish Island. The River Lee and nooks and grannies of an old working industrial area. Sad at the thought of what the future would bring… The first two festivals were remarkable indeed. Then the politics took over and just open days with a commercial aspect reared its head.. The writing is on the wall one way or another and post like yours Tanya are very important indeed. Hackney Wick with it’s artist will always be a special place but one that will become much diluted and gentified, alass they call progress!! So pleased you discoverd Sean Worrel. I have a few of his drops as well and he is really a true champion of free and affordable art!!! Keep an eye out for more of his stuff and check out his blog! Really enjoyed reading this long awaited post very much.
Thanks Mitch. Glad that you understand the pain. How lucky you were to discover Hackney Wick in its early days. I was in the area but had no idea of the treasures on my doorstep. Still I have witnessed and experienced. And I hope my documentation of the change will help too. I’ve such a backlog of blog posts to come. And hope to catch up over the rest of the summer.
Pingback: Lord Napier Pub In Hackney Wick Gets A Street Art Makeover | London Calling Blog