About
“Portobello ReCollection” is a six month arts project in Notting Hill launching this Autumn 2010. We begin with transforming the 100 metre long Portobello North Wall on the Portobello Road into “Wall of Sound”, a giant shelf of records with the titles reproduced on 2 metre high album cover spines, creating an explosion of colour and type design. The celebration of the rich musical heritage of Notting Hill in this wall of sound, will emphasize the connection between the place, its people and its music; as if the wall was Notting Hill’s own private record collection.
The fun, energy and impact of the project will transform the area, encouraging locals and visitors to engage with the street and explore the neighbourhood. Starting in the 1910s, the titles from all genres of music, will take the viewer on a playful, chronological, 100 year journey of the music most significant to this area; while presented on a wall which has witnessed all the changes in music, fashion, culture, and counterculture of one of England’s most-treasured roads.
Notting Hill’s seminal songs, artists and musical trends are identified through collaboration with djs, musicians, record shops, key record labels, stall holders and local historians. We are also appealing to residents to nominate titles and share their anecdotes as to why they have been chosen. All this local, musical treasure will be presented on the “Portobello Recollection” website, where people can further contribute and add material to make it a truly alive project. “Portobello ReCollection” will be a democratic project, involving and encouraging contributions from the area’s many ethnic communities (Moroccan, Spanish, Afro-Caribbean and others.) It will provide a fantastic opportunity for local organisations to get involved, thereby creating a strong visual representation of the specific attitudes and genres responsible for shaping the area’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, and representing the tastes of the varying cultural groups. Each record spine will act as a catalyst for both past and present eras, encouraging the audience to become personally engaged as they walk along the route of the wall.
The scale and impact of the photographic artwork will grab the attention of residents and passers-by. It will stimulate and inspire. It will increase understanding of the area’s history and heritage. Its message will be, ‘Come and join in the party’.
The project looks forward as well as back, helping to burn bright the area’s proud musical spirit.
Portobello Road Arts Project
The Portobello Road Arts Project is a series of year-round artist commissions for the Portobello Road North Wall linking North Kensington’s Portobello Road and Golborne markets.
The project aims to help regenerate the Golborne area through creating a visual link between Portobello Road Market and Golborne Road Market. The project hopes through this to encourage visitors to continue their journeys further up Portobello Road to discover the vibrant Golborne area.
