Richard Amor at Underbelly, Hackney, East London – Spied the rather DIY sign on the main road from my seat on the 106 bus back from Whitechapel and trip to deliver a rather big painting to a tower in Newham, more about that in a day or two, right now we’re jumping off a bus to find out what that sign might lead to.

Well the sign actually lead to that borders of Hackney railway bridge where once a Cultivate exhibition popped up for a rather interesting afternoon a year or two back, well more like six or seven, time does fly when gentrification bites. Painter Richard Amor has a semi-impromptu show happening just beyond the railway bridge in his gloriously messy garage studio and on the the rails outside, he’s made some very DIY signs to point the way, signs that are apparently grabbing the attention of passing pedestrians as well as those on the 106 bus.

He says he hasn’t listed it anywhere or publicised it other than with his signs, it looks like it is working rather well, a more than healthy trickle of people for the fifteen or more Warholian minutes that I was there. It is a beautifully chaotic space and in there, propped against the wall, hanging on the railings, casually leaning against the garage doors are some rather bold rather strident paintings.

I like everything about this, the attitude, the spirit and most importantly, the actual art, this kind of thing was a weekly occurrence, back in the days of Hackney WickEd and empty spaces and artists coming together far more than they do now and such…. Keep an eye out for that sign on Cambridge Heath Road down by the canal, well worth following those signs… (sw)      

richardamor.com

As always do click on an image to see the whole thing or t orun the short slide show