There were several massive strikes by sanitation workers in London and elsewhere in the UK between 1968 and 1970. Atkinson took a series of photographs in Hackney, over the period of three hours, on November 7th 1970, recording the heaps of refuse rotting in the streets. He even gives the A-Z grid-reference for each street. Later, these were montaged together to create a dystopian vision of the urban landscape. The idea of the inner city as an urban wasteland would become increasingly common in the 1970s as the collapse of traditional industry, repeated strikes and inflation affected the country. This acquisition will help people to learn about and enjoy LondonÂ’s rich culture and history.

Provenance

The artist.