Love Among the Ruins: A Romance of the Near Future
S1 Artspace’s latest exhibition splits the Life of Park Hill straight down the middle, with half the exhibition showcasing the residents during 1961–65 (with images taken by Roger Mayne), and the other half in 1988 when the final residents were living in the iconic estate (taken by Bill Stephenson). Both sets of images have been restored and are proudly showcased in their full glory.
‘Tony the Ton’ and Martin age 8, outside the Pop In Centre. Hyde Park Flats, Sheffield, 1988 ©Bill Stephenson
The walls of what was once an old garage (where young people on the estate would rollerblade on the roof) are adorned with images of the lives of times gone by: with news articles, flyers, newsletters and notices from Park Hill’s lifetime appearing on walls and in cabinets, and rare archival material projected onto a blank wall.
Sitting in glorious sunshine looking towards the exhibition, set against a back-drop of the former ‘housing Utopia’ that was Park Hill you can’t help but reflect on the lives that once were, and those that perhaps may be in years to come.
Love Among the Ruins runs at S1 Artspace until September 15.
