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Robson Cezar’s Wooden Houses From Whitechapel

December 4, 2021
by the gentle author

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In recent weeks, you may have spotted Spitalfields artist Robson Cezar collecting wooden fruit crates in Whitechapel Market on the way to his studio in Bow, where he has been making them into wooden houses for sale at next weekend’s BLOOMSBURY JAMBOREE on 11th & 12th December at the Art Workers’ Guild. Each one is different and many are recognisable as inspired by buildings around the East End.

Contributing Photographer Sarah Ainslie accompanied Robson last week to document the process.

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Brady and Robson

Mohammed and Robson

Mohammed shelters by a heater in his truck

Robson packs the crates in his bicycle

These fruit crates are the raw material

Cutting up the crates

Some trial versions

Arranging the houses to make a city, each with an LED light inside

Robson Cezar’s wooden houses from Whitechapel will be for sale at the Bloomsbury Jamboree

Photographs copyright © Sarah Ainslie

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10 Responses leave one →
  1. Saba permalink
    December 4, 2021

    Charmers! While I live in the U.S., I do wish so much that I could be at the Bloomsbury Jamboree! Maybe one year soon.

  2. Saba permalink
    December 4, 2021

    Mr. Cezar, I particularly like that you make these yourself. Here in the U.S. and also in other art galleries that I have visited abroad, people buy cases of stuff from China, add a few dabs of paint or other embellishments, and sell the result as their own work. Shoppers should really look closely at what they are buying. If the basic structure is identical in several pieces and too perfect, you can suspect that the item was not hand made at all. It will lack the beauty and feel of a hand made item. So, thank you, Mr. Cezar, for staying close to the joyous experience of creating hand made items and shopping for them at a lovely holiday bazaar.

  3. December 4, 2021

    I’m considering coming to London for a short trip (GA, where could I stay despite “Covid”?). I really want to purchase one of Robson Cezar’s Wooden East End Houses! — I think the idea and its conversion is brilliant.

    Love & Peace
    ACHIM

  4. December 4, 2021

    Recycling at its best! I particularly like the single width, 3-storey house. Well done that man.

  5. Christa permalink
    December 4, 2021

    Thank your for these photos. How very delightful. Lighting up the breakfast hour on this dark day almost more than the candles around the house. C

  6. Eve permalink
    December 4, 2021

    love ’em- especially that they’re recycled & made into such delightfully artful pieces at christmas time.. can’t wait to see them!

  7. Libby Hall permalink
    December 4, 2021

    A wonderful thing to do. Beautifully done. And beautifully photographed. A lovely true Christmas story.

  8. Pauline Taylor permalink
    December 4, 2021

    A lovely little village of hand made wooden houses, they look great grouped together like that.

  9. December 4, 2021

    Even IF I could attend the Jamboree, I think I would be totally overcome with the amazing choices. Seriously. The silhouette man! The Polish folk art! The amazing artists! The toy theatre! And now this truly stunning array of heartfelt houses. I’m limp with admiration for all of these gifted makers.

    I so appreciate the idea/intent behind this artist’s work — the houses radiate with the joy of
    re-purposing, transforming something quite humble and functional into something FULL of spirit. I long to see the collective grouping of houses, lit from within, arranged under a holiday tree. For me — more is more!

    Off to buy our holiday tree today, and saluting all the makers and artists.

  10. Jill Wilson permalink
    December 4, 2021

    Yes – another inspired bit of recycling art work by Robson! These are charming and would make great individual Christmas decorations.

    And grouped together they look fab, and remind me of the Gingerbread City which I saw at the V & A a couple of years ago.

    Looking forward to seeing them at the jamboree…

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