MA Writing students collaborate with Art on the Underground

Students from the Writing MA programme at the RCA have collaborated with Art on the Underground to create a series of interactive written responses to The Brixton Mural Programme (2018 - present). They join a long legacy of artists who have been featured on the Tube, from Henry Moore to Eduardo Paolozzi, for a significant project seen by the millions of people who travel on the London Underground each day.

The 26 texts created by students have populated the London Underground on interactive posters featuring QR codes that reveal spoken work and sound pieces, and an accompanying leaflet was specially crafted for travellers to pick up for free at Brixton Station. Both the poster and leaflet were designed in collaboration with Fraser Muggeridge Studio.

Texts from the project will also be exhibited as a part of the RCA2024 Arts and Humanities postgraduate exhibition running from 20th - 23rd June, 12pm to 6pm.

The project set out to honour the socio-political history of Brixton through first engaging with its public art. Brixton’s iconic murals therefore acted as a starting point for further exploration of the area’s development, its diverse narratives and the wider significance of mural making. Eclectic, distinct and expertly crafted, the resultant texts, spanning across poetry, essay and short fiction, shed light on Brixton’s rich and often unknown histories in innovative and exciting new ways. They are available to listen to on the Art on the Underground website (here).

Art on the Underground is funded by Transport for London, with additional financial support for some commissions from bodies such as Arts Council England. The programme works with leading UK-based and international artists, including Turner prize winners, to explore how art can shape public space.