Pic: London Analogue Festival
In a world increasingly dominated by digital technology, there is a growing trend to explore the alternative quality of analogue devices. Creatives and consumers alike are beginning to reject the all encompassing smartphone in favour of experiencing nostalgic mediums such as vinyl and film.
This weekend the inaugural London Analogue Festival in Deptford and New Cross will celebrate this, exhibiting a huge number international artists, all of which work with analogue – whether it be photography, sound, or video.
“In an era when digital technologies are ubiquitous, the first London Analogue Festival will celebrate the beauty, power, and aesthetics that come from analogue technologies,” the team behind the event explain.
Held across three of the area’s oldest and well known venues: The Old Police Station, Deptford Town Hall, and the Amersham Arms, the scenery will perfectly compliment the art on display.
The team hope that this first event will be successful enough to make the festival a new stable of the local calendar. “We want to make it into an iconic event for Deptford,” says Julian Gamboa, one of the event’s lead organisers.
To help further this aim and attract as many people as possible from within the local community, entry will be completely free, allowing anyone to wander in and experience the art.
The festival opens on Saturday at 11am, closing Sunday at 8pm. Gamboa suggests that visitors start at the Deptford Town Hall, then go along to the Amersham Arms before finishing up in the Old Police Station in Amersham Vale where, as well as more art, there will also be drinks on sale and a space to sit and chat.
As well as looping films, static photography and sound art, there will be a live performance from three sound artists: metamono, Lisa Busby and Chris Weavers, and four 16mm feature films showing. Full timings can be found on the festival website.
Throughout the weekend there will also be workshops by Lomography and Silverprint, discussions and networking opportunities.
The festival is the culmination of extensive planning and preparation. Organised and curated by six MA students from Goldsmiths, the event has been made possible by a successful crowdfunding campaign and lots of hard promotion – over 250 artists from across the world applied to be exhibited.
So whether you are already a big fan of film photography, want to rediscover the joy of vinyl or are too young to know what 16mm tape is, head along to Deptford this weekend to experience all that analogue has to offer.
