John Oram's photos with the keyword: Barbican

A Sunday morning walk in London can be very rewarding. Amongst the devastation caused by modern architects can be found some extraordinary facets of an older London. This, as recorded on the plaque, has been moved but where it stands at the confluence of Goswell Road, Fann Street and White Lyon Court, it provides some relief from the awfulness of Barbican. TZ70_P1000883E_OL

Omara Portuondo, the remarkable Cuban singer and dancer at the Barbican Hall. Seen here with the very talented Roberto Fonseca, she is still performing at 88, sitting down but in every way engaging and elegant. The audience could not get enough of this charming doyenne of Latin music. © This photograph is not for commercial use and may not be reproduced without the permission of the photographer and the artist. TZ70_P1000441E

Omara Portuondo, the remarkable Cuban singer and dancer at the Barbican Hall. She is still performing at 88, sitting down but in every way engaging and elegant. The audience could not get enough of this charming doyenne of Latin music. © This photograph is not for commercial use and may not be reproduced without the permission of the photographer and the artist. TZ70_P1000448E

Omara Portuondo, the remarkable Cuban singer and dancer at the Barbican Hall. She is still performing at 88, sitting down but in every way engaging and elegant. The audience could not get enough of this charming doyenne of Latin music. © This photograph is not for commercial use and may not be reproduced without the permission of the photographer and the artist. TZ70_P1000444E

A view of a busy Lakeside Terrace, Barbican as people gather for various entertainments. TZ70_P1000437R

A view of a busy Lakeside Terrace, Barbican as people gather for various entertainments. TZ70_P1000439R

A view across Barbican towards John Trundle Court. TZ70_P1000433C

According to an article in The Guardian, dated 17 September 2017, two murals appeared at Barbican as a prelude to an exhibition there by Jean-Michael Basquiat. Banksy confirmed these as originals on his Instagram account. In the image of a ferris wheel with people queueing up at a ticket booth underneath, crown motifs, common in some of Basquiat’s art, replace the wheel’s passenger cars TZ70_P1000449E

According to an article in The Guardian, dated 17 September 2017, two murals appeared at Barbican as a prelude to an exhibition there by Jean-Michael Basquiat. Banksy confirmed these as originals on his Instagram account. This piece is captioned “Portrait of Basquiat being welcomed by the Metropolitan police – an (unofficial) collaboration with the new Basquiat show” and appears to be an homage to Basquiat’s 'Boy and Dog in a Johnnypump', one of his most famous artworks. I am not sure about the leaping, skateboarding figure which might have been added by an admirer (or detractor) but, interestingly, does bear one of "Basquiat's" crowns, TZ70_P1000432R

The original Barbican in Warsaw was built in 1540 but the site, which by then incorporated apartment buildings, was largely destroyed during WWII. It was (mostly) rebuilt together with the city walls in 1952-54 when the authorities decided that an historical reconstruction omitting the residential property would be cheaper and serve as a tourist attraction. Wikipedia reports that bricks were used from historic buildings demolished in the cities of Nysa and Wrocław but I do not find the effect pleasing or authentic. Nevertheless, the reconstructed Barbican is the tourist attraction it was intended to be. 200_2_P1060721

The original Barbican in Warsaw was built in 1540 but the site, which by then incorporated apartment buildings, was largely destroyed during WWII. It was (mostly) rebuilt together with the city walls in 1952-54 when the authorities decided that an historical reconstruction omitting the residential property would be cheaper and serve as a tourist attraction. Wikipedia reports that bricks were used from historic buildings demolished in the cities of Nysa and Wrocław but I do not find the effect pleasing or authentic. Nevertheless, the reconstructed Barbican is the tourist attraction it was intended to be. 200_2_P1060717