A Photographic Journey Through the London Underground

Look Again

Elke Rollmann, Niko Rollmann

• Publisher: Pen and Sword Transport
• Year: 2021
• ISBN:
  9781526781093
• Topic: Art
• Subtopic: Photography

WHAT IS THERE TO SEE? That was the question the authors of this book, Elke and Niko Rollman, heard all the time when explaining their photographic project. The answer is LOOK AGAIN, this book will encourage its readers to see the London Underground in a different light. There is indeed a multitude of images on offer, ranging from architecture to technology, from old design classics to modern art. For anyone interested in the history of the London Underground, spanning over 150 years, this is the book for you. Once you discover the beauty of this particular underworld, it can turn your daily routine into an exciting and almost endless trail of new impressions. The authors also want to encourage readers to go out there and explore "The Tube" by themselves. Photographer Elke Rollmann and historian Niko Rollmann - have spent over 10 years exploring this iconic network of the London Underground with their cameras aiming to catch as many different aspects of the system as possible. A lot of time also went into researching the Underground's complex history. This publication is not just about the network as such, but also about the people who work there and, of course, the commuters. A timeline and a further reading list complement the images and texts.

ART ON THE UNDERGROUND

Did you ever look at the tiles framing staircases, passages and ticket halls in the Underground? Did you ever look over your shoulder as you were sitting on a bench? It is certainly worth it. You may see a colourful bouquet, a galloping horse or even a portrait of Queen Victoria or Sherlock Holmes. How about an elephant swathed in red light, or a majestic Zeppelin floating on the wall in front of you?

Art has for a long time been an integral part of the Underground. Especially since the days of Frank Pick, it has been part of the Underground’s ethos that the whole system is not merely a functional means of mass transportation. It also needs a certain look, a certain style, certain aesthetics – for the stations, the trains, the signs, the posters and many other things that travellers see on their journeys. Since the 1980s, artworks have been specially commissioned for the Underground. The current programme, called ‘Art on the Underground’, was established in 2000 and gives artists the chance to have their works seen by (literally) millions of people.

Take a closer look. The art comes in many different styles, ranging from art nouveau to pop and abstract art. It often reflects the age of the stations, and also refers to local landmarks and sights. Many stations are dressed in beautiful tiles, displaying historic, traditional and modern designs. Murals adorn walls, telling us about urban life and ethnicity. Special events related to the Underground are commemorated in mosaics, for instance at Maida Vale and King’s Cross St Pancras. Sports fans will be delighted by spotting the images of cricket players on the walls of Oval – and who could ever forget the stunning sculpture of an archer, high above East Finchley station? Another highlight can be found at Uxbridge station. If you arrive there on a sunny afternoon and walk towards the exit, you will see the stained-glass window, with its heraldic images, at its most impressive. And don’t forget the enormous display of posters everywhere, informing, warning and entertaining us. If all that is not enough, there are regular exhibitions on a disused platform at Gloucester Road, and many more projects are constantly being developed to open our eyes to new experiences. In a nutshell, the London Underground is a museum of the past, present and future, with no entry fee. The art on display is simply a bonus added to enhance our daily lives.

It should be added that other nations have also given art in the Underground a try. Moscow’s metro, for example, is characterised by spectacular architecture and outstanding artwork. It was intended as a propagandistic showcase for technological and social progress in Stalin’s Soviet Union. Every citizen could feel like a little tsar as he walked through metro stations that looked like palaces. The metro is still a must for every Moscow visitor. Another (perhaps unexpected) example is Oslo’s metro, where the city’s underground rocks and colourful artwork have been combined in a breathtaking way, to make it the world’s longest art gallery. Mexico City’s metro also features remarkable art, and many stations have been decorated with large murals.

And there is not only art on the Undergro...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Content
• Introduction
• Architecture
• Stairs, Staircases and Escalators
• Ornaments
• Signs and Signals
• Safety
• Time
• Work in Progress
• Rush ‘n’ Roll
• People
• Trains
• Buskers
• Art on the Underground
• Above Ground
• Shut down
• Ghost Stations
• Timeline
• Further Reading
• … And Watching: