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Artist squatters: Philip Firsov, Dan Simons and Hubert Kopec and, inset, the £20 million property in Leicester Square home next to the Odeon cinema |
Artists in (someone else’s) residence
Squatting is an alternative for creative people, says collective in £20m property
SQUATTERS have transformed a £20 million house in Leicester Square into a makeshift gallery and fringe theatre.
The Oubliette art collective – the arty troupe who squatted in the former Tanzanian High Commission and Mexican embassy earlier this year – have been staying in the luxurious 50-room house for two weeks, but will be evicted by the owner, the Empire Cinema Consortium, on Thursday.
The group, which dedicates itself to offering large work space to struggling artists, said it gained legal access to the building through an open window in a loft in the back.
“We didn’t break in, but we had to climb over five rooftops to enter through the window, it was quite an adventure”, said spokesman Dan Simons. “We’re not occupying a building purely to live there, but to provide a platform for emerging artists.”
Mr Simons has set up an office on the staircase and a jammed lift doubles as a computer desk.
“We want to raise public awareness. As an artist you need to be dedicated to your work and can’t take on a full-time job just to pay the rent. Squatting is an alternative for creative people.”
The six men and two women occupying the six-storey house have opened an account to pay gas and electricity and have fully functioning toilets and bathrooms.
Philip Firsov, 24, said the group often scavenged for food. He said: “We go to the back of Pret A Manger and sushi shops and pick the stuff out of the garbage containers. The quality of the food is excellent since most of it is packaged, so even if some food was off, it didn’t touch the rest.”
It is believed the building has been empty for more than 20 years, one of many exclusive empty addresses in the West End.
The group said they were looking for a long-term property in central London where they could stay for free.
Mr Simons, who has squatted at 24 addresses in eight years, said: “Squatting can be successful.
“My last residence lasted for four years in Clapham, we turned the house from a derelict heap into a fully functioning property, raising its value and saving the housing association around £450 of security costs.” |
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