Ambika P3

The first time I stepped into the Ambika3, also called P3, I was under the impression it was a pop up location, as one had to go around and through a building site and it all looked very makeshift. That was a year ago. It’s still looked the same now.
Then and now I went to see «The Other Art Fair» (I’m not gone review the fair, but the space it was located in) in this location. Its hidden away entrance surrounded by construction fences and building equipment gives it a very upcoming, unknown underground art feeling. Which is appropriate as the space is underground and has been created from a former concrete construction hall. Yes, the images forming in your head are exactly right. It’s a huge space made out of concrete. It’s middle part — let’s call it atrium for the lack of a better word, is several storeys high and has a two galleries going around it. One of them is hosting a café, which smelt very much like any old greasy spoon with days old fat in the fryer. Not the best of smell when trapped underground. Once we went down into the main area — the entrance was on one of the galleries — it became obvious that the space was much bigger that first anticipated as it extents further into the building as a maze of concrete tunnels and rooms.
I can see this place being amazing with some clever lightning and strategically placed modern art and projections, even as a massive party room … the options are endless and one could do wonders with the space. Concrete can have its charm as seen in the Barbican and the Tate Tanks, which have the same concrete feeling to them. The Other Art Fair did not do that. It was brightly lit from all corners (I guess it was needed for their purpose), showing all the ugliness of it and taking away the striking visual opportunities of modern architecture and engineering.
One needs to come again and see it when its dressed up for another event.