Nina Wakeford: Our Pink Depot

Our Pink Depot: The Gay Underground FLO-N202- 236000000-TRK-MST-00002-SAY-HELLO- WAVE-GOODBYE-KEN-NIE-BPS proposes the whole of the new Northern Line Extension tunnels (NLE), which join the current line at Kennington station, as a ‘pink depot’ for London Underground. The book is a collection of annotated accounts derived from conversations with those working on the NLE, around which are gathered stories from LGBT staff that will operate the new line, and those who frequented the Market Tavern, a pub formerly located at 1 Nine Elms Lane. The Market Tavern was intended to serve for Flower Market traders and porters but by the late 1970s also became a venue for LGBT clubbing. Memories of both populations are gathered in the book, which also includes photographs found in drivers’ and DJs’ personal collections and the Covent Garden Market Authority archive. The book also documents a ‘Historic Trackwalk’ which permitted LGBT+ staff to be the first drivers down the new NLE tunnels, in recognition of the local history above ground.

The book follows a two-year study of the Vauxhall and Nine Elms area by the artist commissioned by Art on the Underground and follows the format developed in Wakeford's previous work which brings together speech and song to accompany historical and contemporary material, including artworks shown at the Barbican, Glasgow International, Focal Point Gallery, British Film Institute, and Wellcome Collection Lates.

Title: Our Pink Depot: The Gay Underground FLO-N202- 236000000-TRK-MST-00002-SAY-HELLO- WAVE-GOODBYE-KEN-NIE-BPS
Publisher: Bookworks, 2019
Author: Nina Wakeford
Photographer: Nina Wakeford
Graphic Design: Fraser Muggeridge Studio
Format: Softcover
Size: 25.8 x 17.8 cm, 154 pages
ISBN: 9781912570065
Edition: 1000 copies