Wonderful and weird things happen when artists focus their energies locally and for a prolonged period of time. Artmongers initial strategy was to develop local relationships in four square miles in South East London and to make artistic interventions within it over a period of ten years so people got to know us. Johnnies DIY was one of these relationships. We started making exhibitions here while Neville run his business. Metaphor Sale was a satirical take on how tools found here are also used for the production of meaning.

Cowbins design was created by Artmongers in 2005 and commissioned by Lewisham Council. Julian Sharples and Patricio Forrester worked on the concept which used the cow´s five stomachs as a metaphor of reprocessing and recycling. Initially, we painted the neighbours wheelie bins without asking for permission and over seven years later, we were asked to create a recycling iconic bin design

In 2006, Artmongers initiated the process of replacing a tired mural on top of Telegraph Hill, South East London. We came up with the concept of creating a piece made of local peoples favourite fabrics to bring together a collection of visual intimate stories onto a public patchwork. We asked participants to bring us the fabric they are most attached to and we wrote the story behind each piece.

This hoarding artwork was Artmongers first participatory mural, created in 2006 and commissioned by NDC in New Cross Gate. Patricio Forrester came up with the concept of involving local people by photographing their hands, to give a sense of community cohesion, diversity and care.

When Patricio Forrester first had the idea for his first mural in London, His ´n Hers or Deptford Pearls as its now called, he thought it might be too silly. Twenty years later, it has become an Icon of Deptford and South East London. It was originally created for Deptford X Festival a few years before Artmongers was formed. The visual intervention uses the shape of the wall to reinvent a narrative about the roles we play.