On Finding the Beauty in a Block of Stone
The best way to observe London, with all its charm and beauty, oddity and idiosyncrasy, is from the top of a bus, and mine was the 31—the only one that went to the World’s End and passed through some of
On my daily journey on London's Bus 31, I observed the city's charm and beauty, oddities and idiosyncrasies from the top deck. The route took me from Camden High Street to the World's End, past the Roundhouse, Swiss Cottage, Abbey Road, Notting Hill Gate, and Kensington Church Street. The bus passed through vibrant areas like Camden Lock, old railway marshaling yards, and the neo-gothic St Mary Abbots.
The contrast between areas of poverty and wealth, such as Kilburn and the growing prosperity of Notting Hill and Kensington, left me baffled and saddened. I looked at the abandoned and decaying buildings with the hope that they could be restored and loved, just like the houses I lived in, revealing a link between beauty and well-being.
My passion for caring for beauty led me to learn stone and wood carving from Don Potter, an eccentric artist and master craftsman. Don taught me to remove everything that was not required to create a good sculpture, a lesson I later found echoed in the words of Michelangelo. Sharing my experiences with stonemasons around the world, I recognized the same quizzical look in their eyes, understanding the confusion and passion that stemmed from the desire to preserve and protect beauty.
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