Hollie Paxton

From the local shopkeepers’ hand-written signage, to jewellery in the high-street pawn shop — my work attempts to highlight the ephemeral and often overlooked aspects of daily life.

Entitled 'Remembering Deptford', my graduate show explores ways in which to encapsulate and celebrate a unique and diverse high-street in South East London. As an area that is currently undergoing extensive regeneration, I’m interested in capturing the essence of the town before the next chapter of Deptford is revealed.

Often, my work incorporates participatory or interactive elements. Previous work of this type includes 'Object Dating', a fully-functional dating website, where users upload five photos of objects that represent themselves in order to find a date. Another interactive project entitled 'Feeling Happy' consists of metal smiley faces being placed on communal push buttons. When pressed, the visitor’s finger is temporarily debossed with the smiley face motif, spreading a little extra happiness throughout London.