One Week Book

Collaborating in a group of five we visited five different car parks in a whole days research.

At this stage I concentrated my efforts of documenting as much as possible through drawing and photography pushing the ideas for a resolved aesthetic aside but always considering narrative.

Car park one being a multi story presented many themes for a car park narrative. Previous to our visit I did some research on the car park, learning that it was a popular suicide spot. When we reached the upper levels of the car park there was a clinical and empty theme going on, I thought what a terrible place it must have been to take your last breath. 

As we left (thus far meeting nobody) we came across some men working in the car park cleaning cars. We attempted to have a conversation of sorts with them however it soon became apparent that they were almost as boring as the theme of car parks itself. 

Being rather pessimistic at this point we attempted to generate ideas for our book around the theme of how boring this and anticipated further visits would be. Possibly from the perspective of the the workmen.

Morrison's car park was a brief and equally boring visit to the car park previous. I was told off for taking photographs by a strange looking member of staff who was organising trolleys. In an effort to spark up conversation I asked why this was and in a bemused manor he explained "the boss said so". 

Following this visit the only idea I could think of concerning narrative could be something to do with the endearingly referenced 'trolley troll'.

The next car park was completely dead. It was full of cars and yet no people, this resulted in nothing happening. There was some interesting architecture around to draw however nothing strong to work with narrative wise. All I could come up with at this point was to maybe work with something sarcastically promoting the car parks of leeds.    

In-between this and the next planned car park visit the group we came across this small car park in the centre of town. In the offices above we caught people looking at us drawing most probably wondering why we were drawing their cars. Again however the boredom became the most interesting element of this car park.

From this point onwards I decided to try and look at car parks from an entirely different angle. I considered how they represent the end of a journey or perhaps could be significant in forming a narrative about fuel emissions and the significance of cars in our society - only being able to take us so close to our desired destination.

Moving onto the final car park we discovered a space situated between many old and rundown buildings. Here we came across multiple signs of drug abuse the least worrying of which being nos canisters - I collected a few of the cleaner canisters. One of the group spoke to an old Jamaican man monitoring the car park. We learnt that this car park used to consist of beautiful 17th century architecture. The was sour about the fact that all was left was the scummy car park abused by local kids.

Returning to the studio we listed most significant things that we had come across over the day:

• Everyone drew cars and windows
• Told off by trolley troll
• Met someone on their first day
• Learnt the history of a car park from a wise old Jamaican
• Got some evils through a window
• Some people kill themselves in car parks
• Car parks are idea for sex / drugs 
• They are rather boring 

Concluding our days research the group collated initial ideas for the book. Ours being:

• Making something from the view point of a car park worker 
• Something revolving around multi purpose nature - sex, drugs and rock 'n roll
• Drawing ourselves on some sort of car park adventure