Anne Howeson: Present in the Past at Collyer Bristow Gallery

Collyer Bristow Gallery hosts a unique solo exhibition from Anne Howeson, with 30 different drawings uniting fictional futures and imagined pasts of imagery from King’s Cross/St Pancras, the largest area of urban redevelopment in Europe.

Taking places and fragments from imagery previously hidden in some of London’s greatest print archive locations, including the London Metropolitan Archives, Museum of London and the Foundling Museum, scenes are transformed into palimpsest. The method of rubbing out images from original digitally reprinted pages, and subsequently redrawing over them, is an intriguing and intricate art form that offers a fascinating portrayal of passing time and change.

Exploring the disappeared buildings of London’s past and the unbuilt places of the future, Howeson provides the viewer with a fascinating mixture of memory and invention. While no one drawing exudes the appeal of colour, closer inspection reveals the incredible delicate work put into their creation.

Architectural enthusiasts will have plenty to admire in the merging of iconic modern day London landmarks, such as the Shard or the towers of the City set to the background of smaller developments of the King’s Cross/St Pancreas area. Each drawing offers a new perspective on old and new, but all represent a constant reminder of how urban regeneration is an inevitable part of industrial evolution.

Howeson is an undeniable talent, and her latest work is an interesting take on the effect of modern urban renewal on our environment and communities, both past and present. Those familiar with the city, as well as those new to its surrounds, will certainly appreciate the sense of inevitable passing of time as our spaces and places constantly change, reinventing the past.

Emma Brady
Photos: Matthew Pull

Anne Howeson: Present in the Past is at Collyer Bristow Gallery until 25^th February 2015, for further information visit here.