Poetry in Lights

Poetry in Lights was launched on Wednesday and we took a walk with Poet-artist Robert Montgomery along Chalton Street to see the installations – poems we worked on with inspiration from the local history and stories. Led pied Piper like by saxophonist Abbe, it was a magical walk. The evening ended at the end of year party with mulled wine, samosas and African Drumming…

Filling the city with poetry – what a dream!

The result, Poetry in Lights, is a carefully thought-out series of five projected poetic illuminations along Chalton Street, created through a creative partnership between Robert Montgomery and A Space for Us People’s Museum, with MTArt Agency being the public art partner. Robert’s approach to the project was to hold creative writing workshops at the museum, open to all in Somers Town.
‘I once imagined a city where every morning you could see people’s dreams written in neon lights outside their bedroom windows. This project is as close as I’ve got to that so far.’ – Robert Montgomery

A series of five projectors illuminate the walls and pavements with poetry developed in workshops with the local community, with further installations due in 2026.

Poetry in Lights is a unique representation of a community’s experience, perfectly suited to a neighbourhood as fascinating and unusual as Somers Town. This community is the very meaning of resistance and its personality continues to shine through all the changes that are happening on every side.

– Marine Tanguy of MTart marinetanguyart

The poetry is rooted in pertinent local issues; particularly the area’s radical heritage and the emotions that have been stirred by the changing nature of an area much loved by its community. 

@eustontown commissioned @mtartagency and artist @robertmontgomeryghost for a new lighting installation along Somers Town’s Chalton Street in collaboration with A Space for us People’s Museum Somers Town @aspaceforusnow.