Poetry in motion makes tube commuters smile

by Petter Lundgren

Creative team Smile for London returned to London’s tube this month, spreading creative light in the dark of January through video-animated modern poetry.

Word In Motion, the latest venture from UAL alumnus Jo Kotas and partner Alex Stevens, shows until January 27 on 60 screens in 15 underground stations during rush hour. The display at Euston station only will last until the 29th.

The project combines modern poetry with moving images, and aims to inspire and entertain London’s commuters - much like their silent film exhibition last January.

It showcases writings from the likes of Jarvis Cocker and Benjamin Zephaniah, and imagery by designers and artists including Malcolm Garrett and Hexstatic.

But the project is not all about established names and modern design.

New, young, artists

Young and debuting artists, sometimes found through youth networks and schools, are an important part of Smile for London’s ethos – especially this time.

Word In Motion was born out of the “seeming indifference” for the written word and literature during last year’s riots in the capital.

Kotas, 33, believes that young people taking part in the riots wanted to express that “something’s got to change” but that they clearly did so in the wrong way.

She and Stevens witnessed it first hand at their home in Camden: “We were pretty shocked. Some young people don’t seem to have goals and aspirations and seem to have a very commercial or superficial view of what’s important in life,” says Kotas.

“We wanted to raise the profile of literature and poetry as a form of expression, and show that it can be cool.”

"Genius"

They seem to have succeeded. One example is Central Saint Martins graduate Phoebe Boswell’s animation of a poem by South London rapper Kate Tempest – a “genius”, according to Boswell.

Boswell, 29, says: “This is a brilliant initiative to inspire commuters and to give contemporary poetry and spoken work a platform. I had no idea there was such a dynamic, exciting community of spoken word artists!”

Poet Rick Holland, another participant, used the project brief in a poetry workshop at a Centrepoint Hostel. One homeless resident, Olivia Sabat, 20, wrote a poem which was included in the project and screened this week.

Kotas explains: “The whole idea behind Smile for London is to create a platform for both established and emerging artists.”

Kotas graduated from BA Graphic Media Design at LCC (formerly LCP) in 2002, and nowadays fits Smile for London projects around her role as Creative Director for HMX Media, a creative agency in Soho.

Looking to the future

She and Stevens, who runs architectural firm Matteblak, are in for a busy year. They are currently planning on moving house and getting married along with getting Smile for London involved in the Olympics.

The project is about “welcoming international tourists” to the city by featuring artists from around the world. More details are to be confirmed.

Kotas says: “I think that there’s an opportunity to do something really cool, which is ‘Olympic worthy’.

If it hits the mark, Smile for London is likely to reach its next goal: “Going global.”