Carnwath Road, London
Carnwath Road: Timeline, Renata Fernandez
Year
2018-2024
Client
fereday pollard for Tideway
Artist
Renata Fernandez
Service
Commission Management
Location
Carnwath Road, London
A block-printed collage for the hoarding at Carnwath Road
Based on a timeline spanning the Victorian era through to the modern day, this artwork shows the changes to local wildlife and ecology over the last 200 years. To create this rich collage of block-printed images, Renata worked with eight students from Sulivan Primary School in Fulham.
Students looked at how wildlife in the area has changed, drawing on elements of the rich history of the river and locale. This included the Great Stink and Sir Joseph Bazalgette’s Victorian sewage system as well as some poignant wildlife indicators, such as seals, European eels, shore crabs, local fish, birds and plants. They visited The Hurlingham Club; an exclusive sports and social club set in 42 acres of grounds to sketch local wildlife then turned their sketches into block prints, using bold colours to create designs for the artwork.
“Refreshingly modern and appealing”
The block printing process was inspired by the methods used by the famous artist, writer and socialist, William Morris who lived locally for a time and who is featured in the artwork along with other local dignitaries. Students also studied other local characters such naturalist and benefactress Charlotte Sulivan; T.J. Cobden-Sanderson and Emery Walker, whose Doves typeface was recently recovered from the river at Hammersmith, and the modernist artist John Piper, whose designs are visible across the road from this site on the Piper Building.
The artwork was de-installed in 2024.
“The participating children from Year 6 were fearless and so eager to try new things, learn and be very inspired, and be inspiring. Not once did I hear ‘I can’t’…they absolutely tried their hardest and had a go. This risk taking is becoming so rare that I felt struck gold with these children”
Renata Fernandez is interested in the life cycle and engineering of tropical urban nature. She makes complex drawings and paintings, often very large with materials such as charcoal, pencil and oil paint. Her works combine monster-like flora with architectural elements and furniture such as benches and chairs. She studied in Caracas, Venezuela and has degrees in both Fine Arts and Social Science and Media Studies. Renata has a studio in Hammersmith and Fulham.
For more information see:
www.tideway.london