This Father-Daughter collaboration presents a walking route map with pencil sketches by the daughter, and a photo journal by the father. Lam, who is originally from Vietnam, moved to Woolwich with his wife in 2005. He chose to photograph places on his work commute, representing the more functional and service based aspects of Woolwich such as Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the market and the DLR station. Lam’s daughter’s ‘sketch’ walk captures lots of buildings that caught her eye, such as the Town Hall. Both said that while completing the project activities they saw Woolwich through a different lens, noticing new architecture, sculptures – such as the old water troughs and fountains on Woolwich Common – and green spaces that they had previously walked by.
During our conversation, they both chatted about General Gordon Square being a great public space for people to sit and socialise. They had noticed that it is the older generations that seem to meet there the most and feel its important for public spaces to be available for this. However, they don’t frequently use the town centre for shopping and leisure activities, partly due to bad experiences when they first moved here (such as poor parking facilities) leading them to finding alternative places to shop and spend time in Greenwich and Charlton. Lam’s daughter doesn’t feel like there is much for young people in Woolwich, and in the past has simply travelled into town and back on the bus for her dance classes. So, for this family, Woolwich serves a more functional purpose, which is understandable given their first impressions when they moved here. While they have lived locally for over 15 years, they are not sure about calling themselves ‘local’ since other places in the borough and beyond have now become regular features in their family life. Their map and journal entries chart both ‘artistic’ and ‘everyday’ impressions of the place where they live.
© Lam & daughter / Lizzie Fort / part of Woolwich Wandering, 2022
Walk Route
Sketch and Photo Journal
woolwich wandering 