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Wembley Park adds four new commissions to its public Art Trail.
The destination’s latest installations is available to see from 01 Jun – 30 Sep 2021
Wembley Park, London’s globally renowned entertainment district and 365-day neighbourhood is expanding its free art programme for visitors and residents. This month, four new installations have joined 10 existing pieces of art across various mediums, including paint, digital mixed media and upcycled materials, to complete its free and visually stunning public art trail. Works include portraits of 16 Brent locals by world-renowned photographer and street artist JR, as well pieces that incorporate the Wembley Park landscape, including artist duo HagenHinderdael.
The Art Trail forms part of Wembley Park’s Summer of Play, an extensive cultural programme of live music, sports, entertainment and theatre designed for its community and visitors to enjoy alongside shopping or eating out. As part of Wembley Park’s Public Art Strategy, the destination’s commitment to commissioning local artists and creatives provides vital support to those whose livelihoods may have been impacted by the pandemic, which has undoubtedly wreaked havoc on the arts and cultural industries over the past 15 months.
This summer’s cultural programme makes full use of the neighbourhood’s design features, including wide tree-lined boulevards, public squares, and green spaces. A digital map of the art trail is available at www.wembleypark.com/art, along with QR codes on each piece, will allow visitors to discover the art ― including details of their materials, significance, and creator ― as they explore the neighbourhood.
Josh McNorton, Cultural Director at Wembley Park, says:
“It is fantastic to be able to give local artists the space to showcase their work to such a broad audience. Equally, it’s great to provide event day goers, residents, workers and shoppers with an immersive, cultural experience where they are least expecting it. Wembley Park has gone through an incredible transformation over the past 10 years and these art commissions represent the new, inclusive community that the area is today.”
Visitors can enjoy the commissions at all hours of the day and are encouraged to engage with the pieces; the artworks were chosen for the vibrancy and strong visual identity, making them the perfect backdrops for photography and video.
NEW COMMISSIONS FOR SUMMER 2021
Inside Out London by JR. Photography, 2021
Location: Wembley Park Boulevard
Super star photographer JR, whose work resides in the prestigious Saatchi Gallery, has launched the new Inside Out London exhibition, which will turn the city into an outdoor art gallery celebrating Londoners. Part of London’s hosting of UEFA EURO 2020, Inside Out London will capture the portraits and stories of people that make up our great city. The Inside Out Photobooth will travel to different locations across the city, inviting members of the public to have their portrait taken.
Almost 3,000 black and white photographs of Londoners faces will be pasted at five locations across the city, creating temporary artworks across London. JR’s Inside Out photographs are housed in Wembley Park’s new Outdoor Gallery; these new, vast frames are a permanent fixture and will play host to emerging talent over the coming months.
Against the Odds by Micah Purnell, Digital, 2021
Location: Bobby Moore Bridge, Olympic Way digital totems and White Horse Square digital totems
Chris Winter / Wembley Park
Power In Unity by Micah Purnell, Vinyl print, 2021
Location: Spanish Steps
Underpinned by a sense of togetherness, diversity, and hope, Against the Odds was inspired by people uniting in tougher times to stand together for the greater good. A theme Micah Purnell has been looking over through 2020 and 2021, he sought to bring a positive and memorable experience to Wembley Park, creating an ‘Ahhh’ moment through the powerful design.
Micah Purnell Says: “The work follows on from a body of work I produced during lockdown around the theme of community. All communities had been taken from people, we had to find it someplace else, and that had to be closer to home, heck, we weren’t allowed to go anywhere. But I saw so many acts and moments of kindness and connection, from a generous and heartfelt nod at the park gate, to live music played to elderly neighbours who’ve never met before. The difficulty of Covid had in some way shone a light on local humanity, and I feel this piece’s Bobby Moore Bridge location is the perfect place to remind locals and visitors of the strength of togetherness.”
Meadows of Change by HagenHinderdael, Mixed media, 2021
Location: Arena Square
Set into original K-2 phone boxes turned pop-up mini art galleries in the heart of Arena Square, ‘Meadows of Change’ celebrates the layers of history of Wembley as an iconic neighbourhood. From its start as the small village of Wembley Green – meaning the meadow or clearing of Wembley – to its transformation into what is now Wembley Park; the artwork takes us through moments of perseverance and change in both the skyline and narrative of this unique part of London.
As meadows undulate like rolling hills across all three booths, the arc of the new Wembley shines and reflects in the mirrors behind. In the evening, the installation transforms speaking to a moment of memory as two spotlights flank either side of the artwork to represent the twin towers of the old Empire Stadium. Merging the meadow, remembering the iconic towers, and reflecting on an ever-changing Wembley, Meadows of Change reminds us that Wembley has persevered, resilient in its status as an icon of London.
HagenHinderdael says: ““Creating a feature installation that forms a dialogue with the architecture and light that surrounds it was incredibly exciting for us. Wembley Stadium is an iconic location that has remained amongst the ever-changing skyline of London and the wider area, so it was fantastic to have the opportunity to craft an artwork that adds colour, depth and composition to an already culturally significant destination.”
EXISTING ARTWORKS TO DISCOVER IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
- Bobby Moore Bridge Tile Mural, Bobby Moore Bridge
- Works by Mr Doodle, various locations around Wembley Park
- Fire & Water by Suiko, Elvin Gardens
- Tilia Tree Totems, created by the public working with Stephen Stockbridge and the Emergency Exit Arts team, Elvin Gardens
- Bobby Moore Statue, Wembley Stadium
- Square of Fame, Arena Square outside The SSE Arena, Wembley
- Royal Wave by Jason Bruges, Royal Route
- Shadow Wall by Jason Bruges, Royal Route Underpass
- Cartographer’s Fugue by Vivien Zhang, foyer of The Hive building (9am–5pm, Monday–Friday only)
- Better Together by Pref, Wembley Park Blvd
- Beton Ginnel Mural by Muzeo, Wembley Park Boulevard
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