Way East was a new space for art in Hackney Wick - an area of London with a strong tradition of contemporary artistic practice.
With a focus on contemporary art exhibitions and events by visual artists, including film screenings, salons and performance, Way East was yet another conventional artist-run gallery space; a gallery-cum-venue conforming to a tried and tested formula seen in hundreds of spaces over London.
But the model becomes the model because it is interesting, because it does something, because it works. While the idea of having a project space in one's house isn't exactly earth-shattering in its originality, Way East was dictated by personal circumstance. Living in a short-life housing co-operative I sometimes find myself in properties much larger than I need. During Way East, I was living in a 2-bedroom house on the edge of the Olympic zone and having a place for people to show some artworks or meet with friends not only fits with my practice as an artist, but also as a good opportunity to share the lucky circumstances I found myself in.
Are art spaces ever truly unique and imaginative? Probably not. But they do provide a meeting place and focus for a wide range of artists, critic, curators and writers to gather and meet, either in person or by a bit of solicitous Googling.
For full information about Way East's projects, visit the Way East microsite.
62 Eastway, London E9 5JH // hello@russellmartin.org.uk