'A Walk in Myddleton Road' by Gabriela Schutz

About

‘A Walk in Myddleton Road’ is a drawing installation which include two pencil drawing panoramas by artist Gabriela Schutz. Measuring 7.3m each, the panoramas are a record of Myddleton Road - a vibrant and diverse Victorian commercial street in Bounds Green, North London, that is currently going through a regeneration.

These days we spend so much time on our phones, exchanging information and communicating with distant people – yet at the same time being by ourselves. It is the personal and physical connection with a place which is the heart of this project. It is about being part of a local community and engaging with reality. 

Drawing is a way of observing the world and being totally present. During the 6 months it has taken to draw the panoramas, I have been intrigued by the changing architectural styles along the street, by the shop fronts representing different periods of time, diverse cultures and distinct aesthetic tastes. Over this period of creating the panoramas, 3 shops have changed or newly opened.  

The panoramic format is very old. In the mid-19th century it was popular for people to go and see huge, immersive panoramas of landscapes and historical events in special cylindrical buildings. This was an early version of ‘3D’ cinema. The panoramas of Myddleton Road represent many walks in the road. Hopefully they will serve as an historical document of the street as it was in 2016/17. Drawing the street, rather than viewing via Google Earth or Streetview, is about slowing down and looking properly at things – and that is true for myself, the artist, and for you, the viewer..