St Pancras Diary 1988 − 1990

Hardy Tree Gallery is pleased to announce an exhibition of works by Hisano Luttman. ST. PANCRAS DIARY 1988-1990 is Luttman’s first exhibition of photography in London and is over 20 years in the making. In 1988 Luttman moved to Somers Town from Japan. Over the next two years, while wondering the streets of her new home under the grey skies, she photographed a forgotten world of gasometer’s, decrepit tenements, coal drops and cobbled streets. Luttman’s work depicts themes of evolution, abandonment, urban archaeology and decay.

ST. PANCRAS DIARY 1988-1990 presents a London no guidebook would ever detail, a special place, almost a film noir, but without film, cast, crew or director. Using a 35mm camera, Luttman captured buildings and streets in their final, almost terminal state of decline. Soon they would be gone, and that’s why it mattered. Throughout ST. PANCRAS DIARY 1988-1990 the monotone process is employed, to capture the inherent sadness of the area, rather than a sense of ‘faux Victoriana’.

When these photos were taken, Luttman was a student of printmaking at London’s Sir John Cass Foundation. While these photos played no direct part in her coursework, it was there that the idea for the project was conceived and developed. Hisano still lives in Somers Town to this day, which now sees a skyline filled with builders’ cranes. The world that these photo’s captured 24 years ago is long gone, but the exhibition allows others to share a glimpse into a space Luttman felt belonged to her. Perhaps in spirit at least, it did…

Gallery Hours: Wednesday – Sunday 12pm – 6pm
Private View: Friday August 10th – 6:30pm – 9:30pm