Walking the elephant

Recorriendo Elephant

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Elephant and Castle statue illustration

I really like
this 'Elephant
& Castle' statue.
Lovely! I want
to keep this one!
Really unique.

The Elephant & Castle neighbourhood in London is well known as the biggest centre of the Latin American community in the UK. There are around 150 Latin American and minority ethnic businesses in the area. The Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre, where many of these businesses are located, has not seen any significant investment in recent years and is in a critical state of disrepair. An extensive and highly controversial proposal for the redevelopment of the site is likely to result in the current Shopping Centre and the surrounding structures, including an outdoor market and two railway arches being destroyed or cleared.

Latin Elephant are campaigning for the interests of the small traders working in the buildings currently under threat. Many of these traders cater specifically to the Latin American community. The redevelopment plan for the site does not provide sufficient measures to enable them to continue trading here. Latin Elephant predict that the current plans will lead to a collapse of many of these businesses, which in turn would rob the community of their vital touchpoints.

In Walking the Elephant, Latin Elephant and I sought to capture what is at stake: a lively, public space that caters to and creates community. External visitors to Elephant & Castle have a visual experience that is dominated by the timeworn materiality of the physical space. In contrast to this I wanted to draw attention to the mental image of local residents, populated with associated stories, memories and experiences.

El barrio de Elephant & Castle en Londres es bien conocido por ser el epicentro de la comunidad latinoamericana en el Reino Unido. Hay alrededor de 150 comercios latinoamericanos y de minorías étnicas en el área. El centro comercial de Elephant & Castle, donde se encuentran muchas de estos comerciantes, no ha visto ninguna inversión significativa en los últimos años y se encuentra en un estado crítico. Es probable que un proyecto de desarrollo muy controvertido resulte en el cierre y potencial demolición del centro comercial actual y las estructuras circundantes, incluido un mercado al aire libre y dos arcos.

Latin Elephant hace campaña por los intereses de los pequeños comerciantes que trabajan en esta área y que se encuentran amenazados. Muchos de estos comerciantes atienden específicamente a la comunidad latinoamericana. El plan de redesarrollo para el sitio no parece suficiente para permitirles continuar con el comercio aquí. Latin Elephant predice que los planes actuales conducirán al desplazamiento de muchos locales, lo que a su vez quitaría a la comunidad sus puntos de contacto vitales.

En Walking the Elephant / Recorriendo Elephant, Latin Elephant y yo tratamos de capturar lo que está en juego: un espacio público y animado que abastece y genera comunidad. Los visitantes externos a Elephant & Castle tienen una experiencia visual que está dominada por la materialidad desgastada por el tiempo del espacio físico. En contraste con esto, quería llamar la atención sobre la imagen mental de los residentes locales, poblada con historias, recuerdos y experiencias asociadas.


— Luise Vormittag, 2019

Illustration of person walking Illustration of people talking Illustration of group talking
Enter
Horizontal strip background
Red tape
Blue cut out shapes
Nos reuiamos los domingos en la tarde hablar entre Latinos en un pequeño local de venta de comidas y bedidas. We meet every Sunday afternoon to speak amongst Latinos in a small shop selling food and drinks. Punto de ecuentro. Me encuentro con la persona que voy a entrevistar para un pg web de la comunidad chilena. Meeting point: I met with the person whom I was going to interview for a chilean community website. Shopping Centre vibe is friendly and neighbourly. Jenny's We go there often. We have baked potatoes, eggs, peas; the cheese omelette is good! I go to Jenny's to eat and socialise. Burgers, beans, eggs, chips. Been enjoying it for 25 years. It's my office for meetings. En La Bodeguita hago una parada segura antes ir a la Radio o al regreso del programa. At La Bodeguita I will always certainly stop by: either before going to the Radio station (Radio Extra) or after the programme. En La Bodequita - un cumpleaños. Un tequila - que nico!! Lueqo todos se pusienon a bailan, la música latina, la salsa, bachata... todos bailamos hast que no podíamos más. At La Bodeguita - a birthday. A tequila - how delicious!! Then everyone has a dance, Latin music, Salsa, Bachata... we all danced until we couldn't carry on. We use the barber, the stalls outside - for example the watch place where you can get replacement batteries - this is all very important to us! Also the DIY shop - it's very useful & quite important. This DIY store is excellent - they tell you how to fix things and don't overcharge. I go to Super Bowl to play and hang with friends. I have been coming here for 3 years and it's an amazing place to visit... My nice shop: He estado en este maravilloso proyecto por más de 18 años. I love it. I have been in this marvellous project for more than 18 years. Sabor Peruano Internacional Helado De Lúcuma. A delicious ice cream made of an endemic Peruvian fruit. Best flavour of ice cream ever. The owner of the restaurant will casually come by and say with a wink. By the way, today we have helado de lúcuma. Arepitas con queso derretido y mantequilla; Sopita 'levanta muertos' como las de la abuela. Lindos recuerdos... Arepitas with melted cheese and butter; 'waking-the-dead' soup - just like my grandmother makes it. Beautiful memories... Chatica Great for breakfast and coffee. I felt as if i were at home in Columbia. Distriandina Cuando conoci a el que es mi esposo ahora le llevé a Distriandina para tomar un jugo de lulo; me sentí en Colombia y en casa. When i met the person who is now my husband I took him to Distriandina to drink 'Jugo de Lulo'; I felt as if I were at home in Columbia. I come for the delicious Colombian food. Vengo por la deliciosa comida Colombina. Leños y Carbon. Great restaurant, friendly staff - A true Elephant experience. Bola 8 Coro net
Clouds
Train Platform
Shopping Centre La Bodeguita Tiendas Del Sur
Illustrated people

During the summer of 2017 Latin Elephant and Luise Vormittag held a number of workshops in and around Elephant & Castle. Local residents were invited to note down their habitual routes and personal experiences on two collectively produced local maps. The animated illustration ‘ENTER’ above shows a reimagined, version of ‘The Elephant’, drawn from the multiplicity of perspectives contained in these maps.

En el verano 2017 Latin Elephant y Luise Vormittag organizaron unos talleres dentro y alrededor de Elephant & Castle. Residentes locales fueron invitados a anotar sus rutas habituales y experiencias personales en dos mapas locales colectivos. La illustración animada ‘ENTRAR’ de arriba muestra una versión de ‘Elephant’ reimaginado, basado en las múltiples perspectivas contenido en estos mapas.

Elephant and Castle map 1
Elephant and Castle map 2
Group of people at table during workshop
Photograph of people working at workshop
Photograph of people from workshop
Close up photograph of hands from workshop
Photograph of group of people at workshop
Photograph of group of people standing at workshop

Our heritage is evident in our feet. The beauty of our people in our smile. We are Latinos and this is our home. We have danced in Elephant many times, we are a family, the family ‘Talentos’. We would love to preserve the Elephant and continue to have it as the centre of our community. Let’s defend our spaces. ‘Talentos’ on the move!

En nuestos pies se muestra nuestra herencia. En nuestra sonrisa la alegria de nuestra gente. Somos Latinos y esta es nuestra casa. Bailamos en Elephant muchas veces, somos familia, la familia ‘Talentos’. Nos gustaria se preservara y continuara Elephant como centro de nuestra comunidad. Defendamos nuestro espacio!!! ‘Talentos’ te mueve!!!

Illustrated Elephant and Castle exit sequence 1 Illustrated Elephant and Castle exit sequence 2 Illustrated Elephant and Castle exit sequence 3 Illustrated Elephant and Castle exit sequence 4

➘ All illustrations © Luise Vormittag. Illustraciones © Luise Vormittag.


➘ Names of participants / Nombres de los participantes: Hazelle I Clark, Diego Ehereny, Macarena Gajardo, Jael García, Ever Guttierrez, Gerald B Leakey, David McEwen, English Ninja, Edison Ortega, Santiago Peluffo, Julio Rodas, Janet Yaták, Tracey Browne, Marek, Elizabeth, Carolin Hohenegger, Cheryl Downes, Naomie Abraham, Tina Kacici, R Chen, Jon Fitzgerald, Andrea Greenwood, Mike Kear, Julian Adamoli, Gareth Morris, Corrina Eastwood, Charlie Smith, Susan Vericat, Richard Reynolds, Lyla Patel (& Zoya and Cyra), Herman H. Lopez and four further participants who prefer to remain anonymous.


Walking the Elephant is published via 3 pamphlets as well as online. © all participants listed / Luise Vormittag / Latin Elephant, 2019. Recorriendo Elephant esta publicado a través de 3 folletos y en línea. © todos participantes mencionados / Luise Vormittag / Latin Elephant, 2019.


➘ Graphic design and web development by See, Also for Latin Elephant. Página web creada por See, Also para Latin Elephant.


➘ Part of Walking the Elephant / Recorriendo Elephant © Latin Elephant, 2019.


Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre, New Kent Road, London SE1 6TE, UK.