02. 96 Shenley Road. c. 10.45 am.

96 Shenley Road 96 Shenley Road 96 Shenley Road

The first four sites in the work have all been places in which I have had a studio at one time or another.  The first floor front room of no. 96 became my studio when I left Camberwell School of Art (Site 4) and I used it for three years at a cost of 30/--(1.50) per week (including tea twice daily).  My landlady of that time makes an unscheduled appearance at the doorway in 1986.  That same room vacillates over the years; sometimes vacant, once seemingly a studio again, and in 1986 part of a flat for sale (which momentarily tempted Leo at 38,000).

The appearance of a figure in the first slide was a cue for the later development of the project, i.e. that where in the first three years or so a figure had tended to appear this would be taken to be an integral part of the site and an effort would be made to have a figure present in the same position each year.  Effort is certainly required at this particular spot since the road doesn't lead anywhere directly and a longish wait is often necessary.  Sometimes no-one at all passes and (1983) we have to make do with a dog.

One day the skateboard in 1976 and the milkman delivering bottles in 1981 will seem quaint and antiquarian features.