King George's Park, London
King George’s Park, London: Domestic Motif, Yemi Awosile
Year
2023
Client
fereday pollard for Tideway
Artist
Yemi Awosile
Service
Commission Management
Location
King George’s Park, Wandsworth, London
Yemi Awosile was commissioned by Tideway to create an artwork for the new public realm site at King George’s Park. The resulting artwork, Domestic Motif, comprises sand-cast bronze elements that adorn either side of a mechanical and electrical building and are inspired by furnishing fabric and domestic spaces.
The permanent Tideway commissions respond to the site-specific narratives set out in the Tideway Heritage Interpretation Strategy (HIS). The theme for the West section of the tunnel is ‘Recreation to Industry: Society in Transition’ with the site-specific narrative for the King George’s Park site referencing the emergence of public social policies covering housing, welfare, health, and well-being, which formed part of a 20th-century modernist vision of urbanism.
In the 16th century, the River Wandle, which forms part of the eastern boundary of King George’s Park, was a hub for activities connected to textile dye works and production facilities linked to linen, leather, iron and copper industries.
“I looked at British textiles designers such as Phyllis Barron and Dorothy Larcher who created block printed fabrics for interiors during this period. Block printing is a technique that I use in my own work but for this project I created digital textile prints to develop the main imagery and compositions in the final piece.”
Yemi’s inspiration for the commission drew on this textile heritage and it’s role in domestic spaces, and re-purposes some of the tactile sensibilities associated with interior environments by placing them outside in the park setting. Titled Domestic Motif, the artwork is influenced by patterns found in furnishing fabric and wallpaper from the 1920s and 1930s, the time period when the park was originally opened. It has been cast in gunmetal bronze – a colour associated with natural dyed linen – and resembles both fabric and water by mimicking the movement and fluid forms associated with the river.
In researching bronze sculpture, the artist came across Henry Moore’s The Draped Seated Figure, which the London County Council purchased as part of a drive to bring modern art to urban areas and promote Britain’s post-war social recovery. Moore’s sculpture is also relevant to this site's heritage.
The site is now open to the public, although there will be further work on site during the system testing over the next few months. See a video here about the site and opening event.
For more information on the site’s history see Tideway’s Heritage Interpretation Strategy.
Fabricated by FSE Foundry and Bronze Restorations with Alloy Fabweld who were commissioned by BMB JV (Morgan Sindall and Balfour Beatty), the main work contractor for the west sites.
See this short film on the concept behind the work.
“The resulting artwork encompasses characteristics similar to interior fabric and wallpaper whilst being sensitive to its environment.”
Yemi Awosile is a designer living and working in London. Her work is informed by cultural insights expressed primarily through textiles and printed matter. The broader scope of her practice bridges design and visual arts through social interventions. Recent projects include collaborations with Tent Rotterdam, Tate Gallery, Contemporary And (C&) magazine and the British Council. Her investigation into materials can be seen in the V&A Museum textiles handling collection.
She trained as a textile designer at the Royal College of Art and Chelsea College of Art. She is an Associate Lecturer at Goldsmiths, University of London teaching BA Design, Studio Practice. She is a member of the Stanley Picker Gallery & Dorich House Museum Advisory Group and a trustee at Open School East.
For more information see:
www.tideway.london