Today for the first time ever, one of London’s most notorious street artists is taking over the walls at the Museum of London. As we speak, artist John Dolan – with his faithful dog George by his side – is creating an inky London skyline, complete with Shakespeare’s Globe, Battersea Power Station and Tower Bridge ahead of the museum’s The City We Live In festival this weekend.
Dolan’s iconic 70-metre London skyline will form the canvas for visitors to wield a paintbrush and make their own mark alongside some of London’s most prolific street artists, including Dolan, RUN and Thierry Noir to create a gigantic collaborative masterpiece. The artwork will span the museum’s panoramic outdoor exhibition space, which itself commands views over famous London buildings, from St Paul’s Cathedral to the Barbican estate. The finished work will be on display at the museum until 1 June 2014.
According to Sharon Ament the director of Museum of London, Street art is an artform that is sweeping across London. It is a familiar sight for Londoners that has become bound up with the city’s buildings, pavements and walls. In a way, it has become one of the many ways in which we experience the city that we live in. At the museum, we tell the story of London and its people from prehistoric times to today. And it’s fitting that we are able to celebrate this phenomenon, here, on our very own walls this weekend
For three years John Dolan sat every day with his dog George on Shoreditch High Street and documented the surrounding architecture, elevating the old, decrepit buildings that are so often ignored and under-appreciated. Dolan was in and has experienced homelessness for the past 20 years and his raw portrayals of London lead a viewer to reconsider something that to them is merely a backdrop to their day. Dolan’s work asks viewers to open their eyes and see the city for what it really is.
The City We Live In runs from 12-4pm on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 May 2014 at the Museum of London
