In 1994, I took to the streets to discuss the ’social situation’ in Kingston-upon-Hull in East Yorkshire. Since that time I  have expanded my research and interviews. This has now become a long list of people with curious dedication and evolving hobbies such as Catfish fishermen, birdlovers, millwrights, street workers, folk musicians, cake decorators, female rugby players and many many more. One particular site accounts for some of this: www.knex3.org

Eccentric archaeology is now emerging… There are several other websites which have begun to document this particular area - www.eccentriccity.co.uk  www.knex3.org and http://theeccentric1.blogspot.com/

The picture gallery below: project entitles ‘Social Worker’ (a self initiated dialogue on the streets of Kingston upon Hull, East Yorshire in 1994. Later made into a film and performance at various locations).

The pictures are film stills from the video documentation which I hope to upload in the future).

Question / Context:

Social Worker (1994) was the first of my series of investigations called The Urban APE Project (Accessing Public Environments). In this case, I independently took to the streets to randomly interview people. In 2009, I  was doing some cursory research in Birmingham city centre and quickly found myself being questioned by security. Urban APE asked the question: What is public space and what is deemed as permissible for public actions and activities. I sensed that the public locations were certainly restricted by law and codes of conduct and etiquette. In 2009, would I be able to carry out Social Worker as impromptu interviewing  as I did back in 1994? There is more anxiety around public locations and surveillance for example. I believe this restricts people’s sense of freedom and expression. A curtailing process is in operation.*

I am shortly going to write about feral locations and activities in respect to creative energy and autonomous activity - the benefits thereof. Link to be added soon.

*I have continued to respond to the sense of public restriction and codes of conduct. For example Sites of Social Special Interest (SSSIs) was one such activity and study.

Some of the SSSI in discusssion: http://theeccentric1.blogspot.com/2008/08/harry-palmer-is-dead.html

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Colin Bunn, Catfish master extraordinare now featured on my www.knex3.org my social website.

Jimmy Fantastik street poet. Featured on www.knex3.org my social website.

Bloom98 - The National Touring Arts and Allotments Project inspired by the UK’s Allotment Champion, Mr Bernard Ostler (1992-96). Click here to visit the full project details.