Getting overexcited about concrete in two languages
I was chuffed to be asked to write a piece for Simon Phipp’s new book, Brutal Wales Cymru Friwtalaidd, published by September Books and out on 4th April.
I’ve long admired Simon’s photography, perhaps my favourite of his previous books being Concrete Poetry, covering postwar public art. This new one, as with all of his work, doesn’t just cover brutalism but postwar modernist architecture more broadly, and in Wales there are many spectacular examples. From Cwmbran’s sculptural centre to Port Talbot’s vast steel works, brutalist beacon Theatr Ardudwy in Harlech and a dinky version in the form of Argoed High School in Mynydd Isa, the book is a journey through Wales’s complex and strange postwar era, a period seen here through the buildings that formed a modern identity before the era of devolution.
The book was sent to press before the news about Tata Steel came through, and so a response to that was too late to include. One thing Simon’s work really captures is how much of the modern architecture of Wales is bound up with industry, and so this makes some of the places depicted in the book feel particularly poignant, and the legacy of distant decision makers often anger-making and raw.
The joy of Simon’s work is that often it’s a journey of discovery for him too, as he stumbles across overlooked gems while on the way to see something quite different, and making sue they are captured too. If you don’t already know some of these buildings I hope it inspires you to go and explore.
More on Simon’s book and some other great new reads too.
Forthcoming event: Rebuiling Croydon
On the 18th April I’m doing a talk in Croydon on the town’s postwar rebuilding. More details on my site here.
Waves or rebuilding have repeatedly changed the face of Croydon over the last century. From airport to the postwar office boom, and the strange half-finished works of today, take a tour of the ever-changing skyline of Croydon and what it tells us of the hopes and dreams of the town. See you there?
Made in England film podcast
Made in England is a brand new film podcast by Jack McInroy delving into the history of English cinema, one film at a time. And I was lucky enough to be the very first guest, talking with him about Andrew Haigh’s film All of Us Strangers, which if you’ve been reading this Substack for a while you will know I became completely obsessed by, even before I saw it. You can listen to the podcast here.
Newyddion cyffrous! Mor falch o weld lluniau Coleg Harlech hefyd. Wedi archebu- ffaelu aros pori trwy'r llyfr ma mor bwysig.
Exciting news! Great to see photos of Coleg Harlech too. Just ordered and can't wait to get my hands on this important book.
Hi John. It’s Made in England. Couldn’t work out why I couldn’t find it as I don’t use Apple Podcasts and was searching by title!