A word with
Garfield Hackett London's Pleasure Gardens
Overflowing with vibrant energy and radiant positivity, Garfield Hackett, the man behind the living, breathing creative matrix of Cordy House and one of the key driving forces behind the now legendary Mutate Britain has got a new project. And we’re talking some seriously next level evolution both in creative terms and in redefining the underground’s relationship with the wider world. Hardwiring London back into it’s lost consciousness and setting the spark for a dazzling new world of creative possibility, London’s Pleasure Gardens are about to explode into the throbbing heart of the capital.
ingenuity bolts raw atmosphere into place. Steamrolling the underground’s knee jerk fear of legality, negotiations with authority and the wholly subjective phantom of ‘selling out’ with overwhelming conviction, fierce integrity and an intoxicating positivity, the Pleasure Gardens are in many ways, the The original Pleasure Gardens were a sublime underground coming of age. space where social hierarchy dissolved into the shady walkways of secret serendipity In an object lesson in belief, talent and vision - where rampant hedonism rode free flow sweeping anyone and everyone away in an expression and Hogarthian downtown beautiful idea - in an intangible, infectious flooded through the blue blooded veins of vibe , the Pleasure Gardens are throwing polite society. Long forgotten and betrayed open the underground dreamscape of by the Victorian passion for all things rigid sparkling creativity to a new universality and self righteous, they were a place of , and infusing that connection with an all uproar and euphoria; of whispered trysts embracing inclusiveness that brings everyone in the moonlight and unbridled celebration into the heart of the headspace - no matter under the flickering, glittering lamplight. Art what their preconceptions. And entirely on and artifice washed through the breezes as their own terms. This isn’t about them and glorious debauchery danced to it’s own fluid us anymore - this is about all of us and the cultural identity and swept the perpetual yearning for magic and experience that unites party deep into the night and away into the us all. A new cultural nexus starts here mists of memory. Having won the Meanwhile competition to renew the Victoria Docks in East London, the 21st Century remix as Garfield puts it is slotting into place as irrepressible
While we spoke to Garfield alone - the range of creative talents involved are extraordinary. Please note the contact email at the end of the piece if you would like to get involved and be a part of it.