Fungus Press Residency: ‘Whose Croytopia?’, Louise Ashcroft

At sites around Croydon; Turf Projects (Keeley Rd CR0 1TF), Wandle Park, Reeves Corner, Park Hill Park

Humorously reflecting on Croydon’s thirst for regeneration and the resulting rent rises, corporate land grabs, and community displacement, artist Louise Ashcroft has made a series of collages which depict the challenges that face local people at this time of change. The posters feature images found in an aspirational home furnishings catalogue from the 1970s (the height of Croydon’s first shopping and construction boom). These images are given new stories through annotations that speculatively detail the lives of various fictional characters and real public figures involved in Croydon’s current transformation – from the overseas investors and developers, to local residents and newcomers. None of the individuals depicted escape Louise’s satire, but the real subject of critique is the absurdly unequal economic system within which we are all forced to operate. Croydon’s socio-economic ecosystem is a microcosm of advanced capitalism; by mapping it, the posters make global issues relatable through local peoples’ everyday realities. Factual research comes together with playful provocations that aim to entertainingly inform passersby, prompting them to consider their own role in regeneration and question whether a luxury supermall amidst a property gold rush is the best version of Croydon we can come up with. And if, as the posters suggest, this is not utopia, then how might we change policy and protocol so that the people of Croydon benefit more fairly from the area’s growth?

// TITLES

Poster series; ‘Whose Croytopia?‘
Letter and pocket squares; ‘The Gift‘
Keeley Road poster; ‘Rich List Smiles‘

// ABOUT FUNGUS PRESS

As concerns grow regarding the privatisation of public spaces across London, and elsewhere, Fungus Press invites artists, designers & writers to respond to Croydon’s public spaces through a series of newly commissioned billboard artworks.

Sites include; Wandle Park’s community garden and pond; Park Hill Park’s walled garden; and Reeves Corner. The programme of artworks is complimented by a series of other works, including; published texts, walking tours and an audio guide.

The text-based posters aim to discuss and celebrate the importance and potential of Croydon’s public spaces, offering alternative ways to navigate the area; both geographically and temporally. They speak of Croydon’s untold past and its yet to be written future; reasserting the essential role that green spaces play throughout civic life: from articulating our sense of place, to encouraging democratic engagement.