There are so many reasons to love London!
But at a time of the year when people are liking the city less and less, I think it is important to be reminded of three quirky reasons to love London – even if it is dark, cold and wet!
1. People are inspired
He sat down at the piano under the train tracks on a busy Friday evening in Canary Wharf. Each way you looked, there were people in suits rushing to get home, preoccupied and distracted. When he started to play, every person stopped to watch and listen. It was a surreal moment and I was so glad to be one of those people.
Fifteen pianos like this are dotted throughout Canary Wharf’s open spaces, parks, malls and waterfront areas to inspire and produce spontaneous creativity. Part of an international touring artwork devised by British artist Luke Jerram, this project has seen over a thousand pianos installed in forty cities worldwide.
2. History can be recycled and reused for good purpose
Situated on Loampit Hill on the corner of Tyrwhitt Road, the Lewisham Micro Library lives in a disused red K2 model (a red telephone box). Founder Sebastian Handley bought the iconic red telephone box from British Telecom for just £1 and set up a free literary resource in January 2014.
The library, which relies on users donating their own unwanted books when they borrow one, has around 200 books available, including biographies by Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson and glamour model Jordan.
The words “It’s not what you get, it’s what you leave behind” provide encouragement to borrowers from the ceiling of the refurbished telephone box.
3. Creative (and fun) art installations appear everywhere you look
An example of this is the 100,000 giant white balloons that currently stretch 54 metres in length and 12 metres in width across the grand interior of the South Hall, Grade II listed, 19th Century Market Building at Covent Garden.
Heartbeat is a public art installation by French artist Charles Pétillon. It incorporates gentle pulsating white light to symbolise the beating of a heart and reflect the history, energy and dynamism of the district.
No Comments