Obstructions

Since sketching the quick zine of Obstructions in the workshop the other day, I went out to photograph objects as physical obstructions. I started with the Kings Cross Central area, thinking I might find the odd anti-homeless bed of spikes, bars or grates. But apart from temporary bollards and ‘safety’ barriers, I couldn’t find anything. Except for the security guards and giant planters. The former are basically there 24/7 instead of obstructions, they are the obstructions, and one of them carries round a black document holder, presumably containing all the bylaws they’re empowered to enforce; while the latter are more like ‘invisible’ obstructions – designed to make you think they’re not obstructions at all.

It struck me that the security guards’ continued presence enabled KingsXland™ to maintain its utopian and pristine landscaped tranquility, free from incursions by the great unwashed and inappropriate, who were all kept at bay along the fronts of King Cross and St Pancras stations on the Euston Road.

As I ventured east off the KingsXland™ campus and into the side streets from York Way towards Caledonian Road, there were no more security guards, just the old-fashioned urban environment left to its own devices, left to defend itself, and the proliferation of physical obstructions returned with a vengeance.