“Robin Hood Gardens, located in Poplar, East London, is a nationally important and internationally recognised work of Brutalist architecture. Completed in 1972, the building was designed by Alison (1928 –1993) and Peter Smithson (1923 – 2003), British architects of lasting international reputation. It is now being demolished as part of the redevelopment of the area.”
-Victoria & Albert Museum

<The last of Robin Hood> is about regeneration and redevelopment of East London around Poplar and Robin Hood Gardens estate. In this neighbourhood, the purportedly 'Affordable Home' system appears to falter, as the influx of new residents drives up living costs, counteracting much of the benefits offered to existing residents reminds of the slum clearance in 1930s. As an outsider navigating this transformative landscape, I explore themes of access, authority, utopian promise, and ownership through repetition, physical layering, and removing.

In 2018, the V&A Museum acquired a two-storey section from the Western Block of the Robin Hood Gardens estate. Despite numerous campaigns led by architects and heritage organizations, the estate was not granted listed status. As of May 2024, the Eastern Block remains standing, but its demolition is imminent. The entire area now has been fully fenced off.

My practice involves constructing a wall, layering it with collage, tearing it down by décollaging, and then demolishing it entirely. Through this continuous cycle, the work regenerates itself. It is at the point of complete demolition, when the wall no longer exists, that the artwork begins to emerge. When the wall no longer holds physical form, the work continues to redevelop and retain its presence.

Special thanks to Yimin Chen.

Installation view of Mixed Media 240x200cm wall at the Hangar Space, RCA Battersea, London, June 2024 along with a Video Performance of 12 minutes 36 seconds which is available upon request.