Everyone in London you talk to complains about the stupidly high rents – which for many people have a suffocating effect and often forces them into joining the soul-destroying rat-race.
So it comes without surprise that when there is a whole building standing empty it will soon be packed with people who prefer to be free and not to pay rent at all.

One of those rare oases in the overpriced housing markets can be found in Stainsby Road in East London where for more than a year squatters have occupied a rather ugly looking example of bad 1960s council flat building crimes. 

I find it really odd but also really amusing that the building hasn't been demolished yet and replaced by another fancy up-market tower-block like the ones that have risen and are rising in the nearby area. It feels like the good has won over the bad for a little while.

The building stands in an incredible attractive spot – with the canal on one side and an unspoiled view over the impressive skyline of Canary Wharf on the other. I love the fact that this must feel like a hot nasty thorn in the money greedy heart of property developers who struggle to get these guys out of the building. It seems that squatters can't be thrown out of the place that easily. A young dread-locked inhabitant told me that that it will probably take another year to empty the building.

Coming from East Berlin I've seen quite a few places occupied by squatters. Usually the buildings were rather old ones from around the early 1900s - often still baring the scars of the second World War after being neglected during 40 years of socialism in East Germany. Following the fall of the wall in 1989 and un-certain ownership issues many inhabitable place were standing empty and eventually taken over by clever free-minded people who didn't like the idea of wasted housing spaces and paying rent.

Unfortunately due to Berlin being turned into Germany's capital, tourist and business centre a rigid clean-up and property sales regime led by the government was introduced. And hence those breeding grounds for Berlin's famous anarchy, punk and art movement have slowly been erased from the map during the last years.

When walking around the building in Stainsby Road I saw colourful signs of creative freedom with graffitis, funny signs and notes and sofas on the open roof. I met George an artist who moved into the place a couple of months ago to paint. I met Gara – a really friendly Hare Krishna guy who practises his drum for 14 hours every day sitting in a little dark corner underneath the rooftop.

But at the same time I saw indicators for everyone's fear of losing this freedom. Every door is marked by the inhabitants with copies of legal papers warning everyone that an attempt of trying to remove the people would be a criminal act.

It will be interesting for how long this resistance in Stainsby Road will be able to fight off the developers. Maybe the current recession will give them a little breathing time but I am sure that - like in Berlin – they won't stand a chance against the pressure and power of the money.

Click here for the full gallery>>

Sunday, 10 May, 2009 marked a historic day. The Candy Factory – the place I used to live in until I was evicted last week - lost the part of its heart that used to make it beat loud and powerful for the last year and a half. lo*kee - the two-weekly Sunday afternoon party was giving their last offering to the electro music lovers.

The lo*kee guys were clearly bullied out of the building by a neighbour who should have moved into a sterile quiet Canary wharf bank office instead of our warehouse - a place which used to thrive through a great easy-going open community, parties and this unique "off-the-wall-you-don't-know-what-hits-you-next"-feeling.

But hey - no regrets - every good story needs a villain. And of course a great finish. And that's exactly what lo*kee had planned for their followers: Finishing with a BIG bang - a 24 hours party bang in this case – midnight to midnight. And although I only managed to stay for the last half of the epic event - I can say it was the perfect way to say Good Bye to the place.

It became obvious once more how successfully the guys established the party in such a short amount of time with one of the best party crowds I have ever had the luck to dance with. Until the first hour of Monday morning – one day after it started - the place was always filled with happy, leg wobbling beautiful souls.

It is sad to see the guys leave the Candy Factory wich gave their parties that homely intimate feeling we all used to love. But I am sure for the amazing hosts it was only the first chapter of many more to come.

So make sure you check out their new venue – which will open only in a few weeks time.
Find out where and when: www.lokee.org

One thing is for sure with lo*kee it won't be quiet on the Eastern Front!

CHECK OUT THE GALLERY OF THE LAST PARTY HERE!

sorry guys for not updating itchyi for a while - i ve been evicted last week and since then i m a sofahopper and had to deal with a lot of rushed/panicked house moving plus also I m still busy setting up my Silly City exhibition for tomorrow - but i can tell you already there will be awesome photos of the last ever lo*kee in my beloved Candy Factory coming up - the place where I have been kicked out from.

So stay tuned!

Peace and Laughter!

itchy i

If you don't like blood - then imagine it's just tomato sauce!

My friend Kat has this quite incredible pipe collection. That's how the night started...

And this is...well...you can guess. I've learned a lot about pipe smoking that night.