Polar bears and half build bridges helped Colliers Wood’s forgotten corners came to life this weekend, when a new art installation explored the area’s abandoned spaces.
The show, called ‘Signs of life’, featured a dozen performances and outdoor works in the town centre.
Art enthusiasts and curious residents met outside Colliers Wood Underground Station on Saturday afternoon for a one-off guided tour of the area.
The day’s more unusual sights included a couple of artists dressed as polar bears relaxing in the middle of a busy roundabout and a bridge going nowhere in Wandle Park.
Art lovers could also take in paintings, drawings and photography installed in out of the way places.
Saturday’s tour was an attraction in itself, as an actor took onlookers through a quirky guided walk that was every bit as odd as the work on show.
The project was curated by artist Pippa Koszerek, who described it as an exploration of the area’s overlooked and derelict spaces. Ms Koszerek said that the event was planned with the input of local people and organisations, who were very supportive of the project. “They were excited it to have it coming to the area,” she said.
Ms Koszerek, who studied at the Wimbledon College of Art, said that the group were planning to return to Colliers Wood soon, when they hoped to work even more closely with the area’s residents.
All of the art was removed at the end of the weekend - but pictures of the project are available online at threeweeks.org.uk Signs of Life was created by Final Intervention, a network of artists from across the country. The group is currently running a permanent exhibition, also on the theme of forgotten spaces, at a house in Liverpool.
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