With his latest endeavour Crossrail, Paul Ratigan has once again succeeded in blurring the lines between the artistic and the industrial, the photographic and the architectural. Completed in the spring of 2016, Paul focused on the location-specific, construction-heavy sites of the planned London underground rail extension. In the process he has created layered, abstract shots which instil his own unique insight into an industrial space.
Entering uncharted territory
In the course of completing a commissioned project to photograph the entire district of Soho, Paul found himself inside the underground station at Tottenham Court Road. The station is one of several which is currently being redeveloped to accommodate the new Crossrail service, a 70-mile stretch of track reaching from east to west across Greater London. As the biggest infrastructure project underway in Europe at the moment, Paul was immediately struck by the sheer size and scale not only of the project itself but also of the spaces it inhabits, and saw an opportunity to create a gallery that was equally ground-breaking.
In total, Paul photographed eight of the stations along the Crossrail line, including the entirely new installation at Canary Wharf and the portal site at Plumstead, where the track tunnels beneath the River Thames. After taking a plethora of photos from all angles, covering both the interior and exterior of these cavernous, cathedral-like spaces, he then merged them together to craft abstract, textured images carrying heavy artistic interpretation.
A fascinating experience
Paul dedicated 18 months to the project and would spend three or four hours at each visit, clad in protective clothing and even an oxygen mask on occasion. With the line due to be opened for public use in 2018, Paul plans to revisit and re-photograph the sites once they are operational.
“I think these stations will look amazing when finished. The spaces may feel slightly different when the stations are fitted out with platforms and escalators so I am very pleased that I have been permitted to take photographs before that happens.” he explained. “I look forward to returning in 2018 to photograph the finished articles.”
Even if the stations do diminish in awe after they are opened to the public, Paul’s photographs certainly won’t. His work is a testament to the grandeur of these spaces, regardless of whether that grandeur turns out to be fleeting or not. You can learn more about the Crossrail project on Paul’s website, while the Doinel Gallery continues to feature the ongoing work of this exciting artist.
