black and white photography by rob gardiner.

On Kawara is a Japanese conceptual artist famous for his ‘One Million
Years (Past)’ books- 10 bound books, each 200 pages long, containing a
list of the years from 998,031 BC to 1969 AD. ‘One Million Years
(Future)’ lists from 1981 AD to 1,001,980 AD. A bullet proof glass box
(large enough to fit several David Blaines) has been constructed in
Trafalgar Square, London. Taking turns, performers will read from the
books continuously for the next week, loudspeakers broadcasting to the
square. This is a 20 year exposure.

The work is supposed to challenge our sense of time, but in this
historic location it is the sense of space as much of time that is
under scrutiny. For the time I was there (22,222 AD to 22,242 AD) more
than 100 people stood on and watched, none closer than 20 feet. A small
child ran to the box and was hastily called back by the father. Dozens
climbed on the lions at the base of Nelson’s Column. I moved within
several inches to take this photograph and moments later security was
in my ear, demanding to know what I was doing ("Passing time"). Then
there is the fact that people are trapped in a tiny box in a location
famous for its open displays. It will be interesting to see how the
crowds react as the week passes by.

One year since the Iraq war began, tens of thousands of people gathered in London’s Trafalgar Square to remember the year that has been and protest the UK’s continuing involvement in the war.

I was in New York this week last year, witnessing often violent demonstrations (March 22nd, March 20th, March 19th). The mood of the protestors one year later on this blustery rainy day in London was much more somber, and I hope some of that emotion comes through in the photographs.

In Part One
I walked from Westminster to BlackFriars Bridge. Continuing the walk,
these shots are to the east from BlackFriars to Tower Bridge. I’ve been
using a small pinhole camera, which as I have described many times has
no lens, shutter, viewfinder, or meter, and is essentially just a piece
of film in an empty box.

Above, home to the Mayor of London, City Hall is another Norman
Foster designed building. Famous for being near Tower Bridge, but more
recently it was shown around the world as the backdrop for David
Blaine’s antics.

As the site of the first Thames crossing, London Bridge has a colourful history
spanning 2000 years. Unfortunately, the current London Bridge is
exceedingly dull. I was trying to bring back some elegance here, but
there is only so much you can do.

As the point and port of entry to the Tower of London for
captured enemies of the crown, Traitor’s Gate was something of an
Elizabethan Guantanamo. These days, it is a tourist attraction.

From the oldest Thames crossing to the newest, the Millennium
Bridge has a history all of its own. Plenty more photographic
opportunities in this location, so stay tuned.