Join us for a group walk, food and discussion, exploring walking, public space and governance with Mark Farid.

What does the act of crossing the road reveal about how we are governed? At a Crossroads, a project by Mark Farid, treats pedestrian crossings as sites where the state, governance and the body collide, and follows how obedience becomes so habitual it no longer looks like obedience at all. It began at the British School at Rome, filming crossings in eight cities across seven countries, and its Arts Council England-supported English phase has run in Doncaster and Plymouth and now concludes in London.

On Saturday 3 October, a walk moves from privately owned land that reads as public into ordinary streets, led by a local Ramblers leader with Mark co-leading, tracing how control is embedded in the ground we move through: ownership and access, signage, road design and the pedestrian crossing. It ends at LADA with food and a debrief, a group conversation about what everyone noticed.

The event is a group walk of around two hours, beginning in east London (start details to follow) and ending at LADA in Bethnal Green. On arrival there is food and a partly recorded group discussion of around an hour and a half. The event finishes by 6.30pm.

Mark Farid

Mark Farid is an artist, researcher, and Senior Lecturer in Fine Art at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, and a PhD candidate at the Creative Computing Institute. His practice explores the intersection between the virtual and physical worlds, examining how new technologies shape individuals’ sense of self and collective perception. Farid’s work draws on hacker ethics and focuses on privacy policies, surveillance technologies, and advocacy for data privacy and protection. Collectively, his projects form a critique of contemporary social, legal, and political structures.

Event information

This event includes a two hour-long walk from a specified meeting point to LADA in Bethnal Green.

Once at LADA the event is seated. Various seating options will be available including fold out chairs, office chairs, a sofa and a bench. All are welcome to join in a relaxed space and are free to come and go as they please. The lighting will be fixed with no sudden changes and microphone amplification will be used. There are disposable masks and hand sanitiser available. After the discussion there will be an opportunity to socialise.

LADA space

The building is wheelchair accessible by lift and provides a wheelchair accessible ground-floor bathroom. All bathrooms are gender inclusive. There is no isolated quiet space inside, but there is a small quiet outdoor area. Some of the art on display in the space includes naked bodies. You can find more information and see photos of the space here. Should you have any particular access requirements, please email kane@thisisliveart.co.uk and we will be happy to offer further support.

Content notes

Please email kane@thisisliveart.co.uk if you would like more information on what to expect.

Please note this event will be recorded.

Description supplied by the event organiser.