It’s hard to miss the word HELCH when walking around Shoreditch in East London in particular
As you walk around London, taking in the old Victorian buildings and the never-ending supply of high-rises, striking art is always not far behind. Whether it is hidden down an alleyway, sprawled on trains or tagged in the most complex places, graffiti is a staple of London culture.
Graffiti never more apparent when walking around Shoreditch. The area is famed for its artistic history and creativity is not in short supply. Over the last 20 years, Shoreditch has taken on new character. No matter where you turn, there is a new skyscraper taking form, towering over the graffiti-covered streets below.
Yet, if you were to look closely along the walls and down these streets, one thing remains a constant; even if nobody knows how it gets there. HELCH came to prominence after the tag appeared over the phrase ‘Give Peas A Chance’ on a bridge on the M25. It was changed to ‘Give Helch A Chance’.
The iconic ‘HELCH’ tag – you may not realise you’ve seen these block capitals but you definitely have. Whether it is on the motorway or walking down a side road in Shoreditch, HELCH’s unique and striking tags are hard to miss once you realise they are there.
HELCH in block letters with different colours are everywhere. If you take a minute to look up from your phone, you will soon realise HELCH has been here long before you. However, it’s not only Shoreditch that the iconic tags have been seen.
An Instagram page called ‘Helch_walls’ showcases all the places his pieces have been spotted. HELCH tags have been seen on motorways such as the M1, M25 and M4 and in areas like Brentford, Acton, Camden and even Windsor. The one in Windsor allegedly caused upset the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2019 after a 60ft and 10ft high ‘HELCH’ was spray painted across a railway viaduct outside of Windsor Castle. It was truly hard to miss as you rode in a train, leaving Queen Elizabeth “extremely upset”.
However, the legacy Helch has built over the last decade is hard to ignore. A recent gallery showcasing his art at BSMT Space in Dalston brought in a host of supporters who were able to take in all of his work.
This was HELCH’s first-ever solo show, ‘No Half Measures’, that ran from December to January. It was sold-out, showing that HELCH’s art is supported by many. Even though his identity remains unknown, it seems his art has built a community.
At first, it was thought HELCH was West London based but throughout the years the tags have appeared all over the capital, showing no area is too far to be untouched. We are still no closer to finding out who he is but one thing for sure is his art is still making an impact throughout the capital.
Got a story? Please send me a message at ayokunle.oluwalana@reachplc.com
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