Yesterday we stumbled across the Dogs of London exhibition at Westbourne Grove Church, the centrepiece of which is the Dogs of London Map.
Artist Anna Walsh embarked on a doggy drawing project and as she examined the different breeds, each with their own character and distinctive look, she wondered how much the type of dog you choose says about your social status and the area you live in. She decided to map 35 woofs alongside the places that most seemed to suit them.
With tongue somewhat in cheek, much of the text is taken from the book 'Champions Dogs of the World' by Richard Hamilton Glyn, as Walsh found the descriptions of the dogs often uncannily describing the inhabitants of certain areas.
Unfortunately, the text is rather small but we've perused it well. The Walthamstow dwelling Grey Hound is an obvious match to keep alive memories of the dog track. Mayfair seems right for the elegant Dalmation given both Burlington Arcade and St James' Park featured in the remake of 101 of them. The Bichon Frise looks happy in Battersea; like its neighborhood it 'emerged from obscurity in the late 70s'.
The Peckham Pit Bull suits our knowledge of locals who made the Peckham Peace Wall: 'completely fearless, devoted'. We're worried about the Camden Town Komondor's coat getting matted. The Chinese Crested certainly looks like it belongs in Shoreditch, although we're not sure about the 'lively and affection' description for its fellow hipsters. The elegant Collie seems perfect for stepping over Hampstead Heath and the Staffie for Hackney: 'Needs firm handling... to ensure they do not develop bad habits'.
What dog would you put where? Let us know in the comments.
Click the map for a larger version or get down to Westbourne Grove church before the end of Saturday to have a look at the large print on display.
Dogs of London is on show at Westbourne Grove Church ArtSpace, W11 2RD until 29 October.