Uncertain Eastside by Nikki Pugh

GPS drawing from two laps around Eastside, Nikki Pugh 

Today we would like to present another Digbeth related art project by Nikki Pugh, Birmingham based artist. She was repeatedly walking around the perimeter that defines Eastside for a month and a half, trying to pay attention to how these spaces are being used at different times and by different groups of people.  ‘In 2006 this was mostly all unknown territory to me – she writes. - By 2009 it was still mostly unknown territory, but now with small incursions around Digbeth and Curzon Street. When I decided I wanted to return to some of the questions raised by the area’s regeneration, it was apparent that my first step should not to be to research it in an academic manner, and subject myself to all the spin, but to get out there and experience it directly’.  

Artist was documenting the process of walking using a GPS technology, which logged her position once every second. She was interested to see how the cityscape affected her position as seen by the machines. As Nikki writes on her blog, GPS is not as accurate device as we would expect. ‘Looking at the results from any one walk I can see a whole host of different glitches and errors. To be honest, they’re what make GPS an interesting thing for me to work with’ – she writes. She finally invited other people to join her for an investigative walk. They were walking, exploring and documenting this fascinating area. Photographs and video from this escapade you can find here and here.
You can also buy a 'Document one: 2009', publication documenting the project . The book comprises details of an artwork by Pugh, photographs contributed by participants of a Walk and Talk event and also texts by Ben Waddington, Joe Holyoak and Tracey Fletcher.

somewhere in Digbeth, photo: Nikki Pugh 

investigative walk, photo: Nikki Pugh