Aylesbury portraits to be live-streamed in art collaboration

An intimate portrait of the residents of an estate embroiled in a controversial redevelopment will be live-streamed to highlight stereotypes of urban decay.

The Aylesbury Estate in Peckham was earmarked for demolition and redevelopment in 2005 but has been met with fierce opposition by the residents since then.

On October 22, portraits of residents will be dramatically projected onto the buildings of the Aylesbury Estate and live-streamed.

The event marks a collaboration between artist Richard Ansett, charity Creation Trust and residents of the Aylesbury Estate.

The images created, since lockdown was lifted, are an intimate collaboration with the last residents and offer an alternative narrative to the stereotype and mythologies of urban decay.

The project recognises the unwarranted reputation that has overshadowed the amazing lives of generations who have made this place their home against the odds.

The projections will transform the estate into a backdrop for the communication of a story of diversity and community behind the brutal facade.

Richard Ansett says: “I have been examining my relationship to other people with my camera my whole career, but moving to Camberwell six years ago offered an opportunity to ask questions about what community actually is and how I fit in.

“I see the decaying monolith of the estate everyday and during lockdown I thought about the people inside and what their lives might be like and how I didn’t know any of them and they didn’t know me.

“I decided that a good place to start to explore what community is, was in the last place we might think to look. I approached the Creation Trust and was welcomed with open arms.”

Charlotte Benstead from Creation Trust, said: “For years it was the first port of call for directors, producers and location scouts looking for grim backdrops to murder scenes, gun and drug storylines and gang-related crimes in soaps and gritty dramas.

“Due to pressure from local residents, Southwark council banned filming on the estate but all these representations have perpetuated the negative reputation of the estate… We felt we needed a record an alternative and more truthful version.”