Street Art - Southbank

London has a very lively street art scene. In a lot of places, it's a norm to find performers striving hard to attract public's attention to their performances. Mimes, paintings (including on the pavement), street dancing, magic show are among the favourites. Apart from the usual 'living statues' there are also dancing statues and music playing statues.








A nice way to spend an afternoon is to take the Tube to Embankment Station and from the station, walk across the Thames on the footbridge towards Waterloo station. The view from the bridge is great all around especially facing the London Eye On the embankment in-front of the Jubilee Garden, there's nearly always a gathering of street performers showing off their talents.

There's a lot of mimes, balancing act, Charlie Chaplin and even Chameleons riding bicycles. Pavement paintings are also very impressive and the amount of time the artists spent to complete their paintings are usually written below the paintings and these are usually in region of 50 to 100 hours.

Apart from the usual mimes of metal coloured 'statues', a table with 2 potted flowers was also there. Only upon closer scrutiny of the pot on the left will the secret be revealed and usually to the surprises of the spectators. Talking flower pot?



A silvered coloured Elvis was seen walking around saying hello to the other performers and there was also an invisible 'King' sitting on his throne. It's a good idea to take some loose change during these walks to tip the performers.

Apart from doing their own performances, posing for photographs with members of 'audiences' and in general entertaining people, especially wide-eyed children who keep asking their parents whether that is a real person or not and how can s/he remain still for so long, they like to get the public involved in their act as volunteers. Kids are usually very excited if they are 'chosen' to volunteer - budding future street performers maybe.....