Southbury Art Trail

Femi Koleoso_MUSICIAN

Femi Koleoso is a musician and mentor who grew up in Ponders End and describes the area as the geographical centre of who he is. He speaks about the neighbourhood with deep familiarity and affection, portraying it as a microcosm of the world. He remembers the area through vivid sensory impressions and childhood vignettes, seeing the world on his doorstep and working the system for cheap sweets. Ponders End is loud, aggressive, perfect. A dancing city, where walking the streets creates a sense of belonging he cannot find anywhere else. He describes the language of London, a subtlety of communication composed of tiny, intrinsically understood gestures; a nod, a glance, a shared moment of humour, a dialect in which the people of Ponders End are fluent. As a musician, Femi sees his work as connected to the energy of the place he grew up. His music is driven by joy and rushing, energetic feeling - qualities he associates with the life of the neighbourhood itself. Femi also works with young people through the Jubilee Youth club, and sees this as one of the most meaningful parts of his life, giving him the opportunity to support younger versions of himself growing up in the same streets; diamonds within the rock of Ponders End.

This is Southbury Art Trail

‘This Is Southbury Art Trail’ is a new creative placemaking initiative celebrating the Southbury and Ponders End neighbourhood shaped by community, resilience and industry. The new public art trail weaves together 3D portraits, poetry, and local voices to honour Southbury’s identity and bring everyday stories into the public realm.

DYSPLA, an award-winning art studio in Enfield, was commissioned by Enfield Council to deliver this innovative digital art and 3D sculptural project working with 30 community members, to shape this bold new public art trail and offers a wonderful opportunity for local people to come together and shape who they are, where they live and how their work is shaping the area.