Synopsis

Black-and-white footage of young people building the exhibitions in Whitechapel Arts Gallery, as part of the ‘Big Show’, filmed by the Basement Project. The Tower Hamlets Arts Project (THAP) was formed in 1976 out of protest to the Thames Television ‘Eyesights’ scheme which commissioned professional artists to create posters for display in the borough, rather than investing in local arts projects. A crowded public meeting in February 1975 called for an alternative, bolder plan, bringing together existing and fledgling arts activities under a coordinating body to be called the Tower Hamlets Arts Project (THAP). The purpose was to create opportunities for everyone to participate in community art. THAP celebrated their achievements with a month-long ‘Big Show’ at the Whitechapel Art Gallery.

The camera roams around the space, which is littered with equipment, paint and other tools to set up the exhibition space. We see painted murals of an elephant in a carnival-like design while columns are decorated with zig-zag stripes. In one sequence, we see a gazebo in the corner and people painting directly onto the walls. However, half-way through the video, the screen turns white as the rest of the video is destroyed. We can hear pop music although we don’t see an image.