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Ghosts of christmas past

London's Clerkenwell is now London's most fashionable district as 19th century commercial buildings are being reconstructed into fashionable eateries, flats and offices. The Dickensian feel of Victorian buildings like the Clock Building of 1893 in St John's Street, part of the Allied Brewery complex, may disappear by the end of this decade as London EC is modernised "from within". Its future is uncertain at this moment. However, planning permission for the over 70,000m of floor space, presently used as a car park, has been given by Islington council.

But just now three women artists* have put drama and emotional drive into a semi-derelict old Brewery in London's Clerkenwell, thanks to the imaginative drive of their curator Angela Diamandidou. The entire building has turned into an art work, which embraces cityscapes seen through the windows.

The paintings, sculpture and mixed media works are enhanced by the traces of time which reside in the spaces. The fact that the building may be up for demolition gives the installation a heightened poignancy and symbolic meaning.

Probably the best contemporary show this December for anyone interested in the city of London, architecture, painting or sculpture.

* Frances Aviva Blane, Sheila Gaffney, Helen Sear

"Before now.... and after" is at 148 St John Street, London EC1 until December 22, open Wednesday - Saturday 12 noon - 6pm. Admission free.

Gaffney, Sear and Blane are also exhibiting in Almstadtstrasse in Berlin's Mitte district, another inner-city area undergoing transformation.