WATNEY MARKET

WATNEY MARKET UNDERGROUND CAR PARK

WATNEY MARKET IS A SMALL MUNICIPAL MARKET IN LONDON’S EAST END OFF THE COMMERCIAL ROAD AND CLOSE TO SHADWELL STATION. LIKE MOST MARKETS IN THE EAST END, IT HAS A LONG HISTORY SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

THE MARKET NOW PROVIDES FOR A LARGELY ASIAN BASED COMMUNITY SELLING A WIDE RANGE OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS, FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. LINING THE LOCAL MARKET ARE A NUMBER OF SHOPS AND CAFÉ’S EQUALLY AS POPULAR AND BUSY AS THE MARKET.

ABOVE THE MARKET CONCOURSE ARE FLATS HOUSING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY BUT LARGELY UNKNOWN IS THE LARGE CAVERNOUS UNDERGROUND PARKING AREA THAT LIES UNDERNEATH THE MARKET COMPLEX THAT PROVIDES PARKING AND STORAGE FOR THE MARKET TRADERS AND SHOPS.

THIS IS THE AREA THAT HAS FASCINATED ME FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS HISTORICALLY IN THE ROLE OF A MARKET INSPECTOR AND NOW AS ONGOING PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT. I HAVE BEEN PHOTOGRAPHING THE AREA FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS DOCUMENTING THIS DICKENSIAN LABYRINTH UNDERGROUND.

THE SPACE HAS BEEN HOME/REFUGE AND MEETING PLACE FOR DRUG DEALING, ADDICTS, HOMELESS PERSONS AND TO THE GENERAL ERODING DECAY. UNLOVED AND POORLY MANAGED. I HAVE IN THIS UNDOCUMENTED LONDON ENVIRONMENT ATTEMPTED TO PHOTOGRAPH THE ATMOSPHERE IN A PURPOSELY ‘RAW’ WAY TO ENCAPSULATE THE LIFE UNDERGROUND.