Artist Mark Woods exhibits 'Urban Portraits' in Hampstead

Friern Barnet-based artist Mark Woods will present his exhibition 'Urban Portraits: Fragments of London' at Burgh House in Hampstead. The collection showcases mixed media artworks created with watercolour, gouache, and coloured pencil, focusing on buildings undergoing significant change.

Focus on buildings at risk

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Woods' art centres on structures he describes as being on the "cusp of change," often highlighting abandoned and derelict buildings in areas undergoing gentrification. He aims to capture the essence of these structures, including their "scars," graffiti, and signs of weathering, as reported by the Barnet Post. Each piece is intended to serve as a portrait of a temporary structure, a "memory of what it was."

The artist believes that public interest in these buildings stems from the memories they hold rather than the structures themselves. By depicting them with a high degree of realism, Woods hopes to preserve their character for appreciation. He spends considerable time drawing on-site to achieve this, aiming to bring the buildings to life in a way photographs cannot fully replicate, according to the Barnet Post.

A twenty-year perspective on London

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The 'Urban Portraits' exhibition spans two decades of Woods' work, reflecting his perspective on London's increasing gentrification. He observes that as old warehouses are demolished, a part of the city's history is being erased. Woods' intention is to preserve the atmosphere and feeling of these buildings before they disappear entirely.

The exhibition is open at Burgh House from 28th October to 15th November. Further details are available on the Burgh House website.