Madge Gill: Portal to the Future – research in the archives and the streets

Researching the artworks of Madge Gill in Newham Archives & Local Studies Library

Our starting point was Newham Archives & Local Studies Library that keeps a large collection of original artworks of Madge Gill. We invited 4 volunteer researchers, who had expertise in various subjects that are connected to our research including art and botany.

While looking through these artworks we tried to identify and document any floral motifs in Madge’s art. We did not anticipate the overwhelming effect that her artworks would have on us – we were completely stunned in the presence of her art.

We were amazed by Madge’s extraordinary talent and creativity, quality and quantity of her work. She created thousands of artworks and yet each one of them is like a bright shining jewel. We were also surprised by how many of her artworks were inspired by nature, in an authentic and heartfelt way.

As we identified and documented floral motifs in Madge’s artworks there were moments of pure magic, for example when we found Madge’s note on a postcard, spelling out: “Go further and penetrate these mysterious pictures”.  These words sounded like a message sent by the artist.

The Second Session of Research: Psychogeography

We met again with our volunteers to continue our investigation by walking through the neighbourhood where Madge lived. We used a trail that was developed in the earlier Newham Heritage project.  Along the way we located each event of her life to the geographical place nowadays and travelled through time with our imaginations. We looked for any clues, buildings, trees, that might have been there when Madge was alive. We tried to be closer to this artist and understand her story the best we can as well as finding anything that might have inspired her extraordinary creativity. 

As we went we searched out the huge array of wild plants sprouting from cracks in the paving, clinging to brick walls and flourishing in corners of land.

We learned to speak their names which felt like spells. Shepherd’s purse, dandelion, ivy-leaved toadflax, sow thistle, laurel, green alkanet, three cornered leek and many more became familiar delights and, as our eyes slowly learned to pick them out, we began to see them throughout this surprisingly abundant urban landscape. Examples of these plants were pressed to be used as references in the upcoming art workshops for children which also formed part of the project.

In the middle of our walk we paused for a meditative session led by Oliver. We focused on our 5 senses and conjured the plants we had encountered. Holding boards and paper up to our chests we sat with closed eyes and drew our feelings and reflections from the day.

The final point in our walk was the peaceful City of London Cemetery where Madge rests surrounded by a lush explosion of spring plant life. We spent almost an hour searching for her headstone, including, with the very kind permission of the staff, half an hour after the cemetery should have closed, but we could not find her grave. Eventually we paid our respect to this artist and left each to our own way but determined to come back together to find her resting place another day.

Our research sessions gave us more than we could have ever imagined. We were overwhelmed with warmth and appreciation for Madge Gill, who was so unfortunate in her life yet managed to overcome the odds and give so much to this world. 

The organisers of these sessions, Elena Juzulenaite and Oliver are very grateful to our wonderful volunteers for their time, ideas and reflections that they shared with us. Thank you Steven Villacís, Georgina Philippou, Jo Gray, Mo Parker, Stephen Guy.