Painting – The Den in The Moss
The Den is a depiction of when friends and I used to make dens out of old air raid shelters and derelict houses in Moss Side, we had these hideaways to avoid bullying gangs in Moss Side, it was exciting and we always had escape routes worked out, often leading from dangerous derelict unsafe buildings. This was a way of life for kids in Moss Side in the 1970s and 1980s.
Painted in Acrylic and Ink using the croquis method for the characters to show movements. Urban cityscape.
One of eleven paintings of Moss Side past by me, Andrew Alan Matthews. Signed limited edition prints available.
Story and video – The Den in the Moss
The Den in the moss Air raid shelters they were belters Old derelict houses Wore holy trousers What howlers Yeah we had hideaways From bullying gangs escape routes worked out yeah dangerous Derelict houses We didn’t wear blouses Yeah Live wires and leaking pipes danger in every corner we didn’t care it’s a dare stop and look and stare yeah kids of the 70s and 80s in the moss it was boss a way of life no trouble and strife we had a life yeah the den in the moss it was boss
