London Unfurled

 

Divided and united by its river, London is one of few cities in the world to find its essence in two profoundly different, yet nearly touching, urban characters—meaning that the Thames provides the perfect vantage point for telling a comprehensive story of this complex city. Arriving with little previous knowledge of London, Matteo Pericoli made an intensive 20-mile journey along the Thames, from Hammersmith Bridge to the Millennium Dome and back again. More than two years later, he has completed an astonishing document of his journey: two 37-foot-long pen-and-ink drawings depicting the city's north and south banks. Each drawing—presented on either side of this beautiful single-sheet accordion-style book—is rendered with loving and essay-like detail, revealing a distinct profile of London in all of its diversity: a dozen boroughs, 19 bridges, and hundreds of buildings, including the Houses of Parliament, Tate Modern, Battersea Power Station, and Millennium Wheel. Pericoli's inimitable drawings, constantly complementing and questioning each other, brought him to a better understanding of London. Both lifelong residents and those who have never visited will find that this breathtaking work of art deepens their thoughts and renews their fascination with one of the world's most impressive cities.