This project draws on my research into the writer Jack Common and the principles of a relational art practice. The stencils I created are designed to recreate the street games Common references in his writing about childhood play in working-class backstreets.

Each stencil carries a segment from this quote from Common to frame the project: “Why there’s such a good communal stir and warmth out on the pavements that it would be a queer kiddy who would sooner sit indoors than mix in it — even if indoors was a palace.” This quote highlights the importance of shared public space as something accessible to everyone, regardless of class, whilst also emphasising the freedom children experience through creating their own worlds and communities through play.

The final designed object functions both as an aesthetic piece and as a practical tool for children’s world-building, encouraging community interaction and reclaiming the backstreet as a social space. A striking contrast between the 1930s and today is the decline of children playing outdoors, an issue that feels increasingly important to address due to the social and developmental value of outdoor play.

Throughout the project, I designed and produced the stencils, created instructional guides for each game, carried out extensive research into Common’s writing and traditional street games, sourced and curated archival imagery, and reinstalled the games within a contemporary backstreet setting.