Sideshow Alley
Boulevard de Clichy in Pigalle is a busy strip of peep shows, sex shops, clubs and bars. In search of bright lights as well as photos of Moulin Rouge, I went there one evening last October.
I have always had a fascination for fairgrounds – the scariness of them. Pigalle with its neon kaleidoscope and promises of thrills is just like a fairground – a tawdry extravaganza of colour, people and noise. By day it is simply sad but at night it bursts into showy splendor. (Day or night you need to watch your back.)
A few months back I did a drawing of Moulin Rouge which I called “Show Time” also from this particular visit. The two drawings make a good pair.
“Sideshow Alley” is an overcoat of coloured pencils – worked into an undercoat of Sennelier oil pastels.