A large mural recently appeared on a Whitechapel side street, celebrating the area’s history and diversity. Painted by the artist Frank Creber, who was commissioned by the local organisers, it was formally unveiled by Sir Ian McKellen a couple of weeks ago.
Painted on the side of a block of shops, it’s an explosion of colour on what had been a drab and occasionally graffiti’d brown wall.
It’s also quite detailed, and you can spot lots of local landmarks in amongst the local people and the more time you spend looking, the more little jokes you might spot.
I particularly liked the idea of reusing the building’s drainpipe as a clothes rack which is a common sight in the many clothes wholesalers around the area.
There are references to the local textile trades, the market, WWII, the old Whitechapel bell foundry, and one of the surviving Wimpeys. The church is matched by the mosque. There are Roman soldiers and Tudor actors, nurses and boxers, protestors and shoppers.
On my visit, a group of kids excitedly pointed out which of them inspired one of the characters in the mural, a sure sign that it’s brought the community together for an art event.
You can find the mural towards the southern end of Sidney Street.
A commemorative booklet, Whitechapel Stories, is also being produced to mark the occasion and will apparently be available shortly.
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