We’ve collaborated with Tate Collective to bring five stunning new artworks created by five emerging artists to animate the streets of Bankside.
Each artist was invited to produce a new commission that responds to lockdown, the easing of restrictions and the chance to see people again, with the resulting works aimed at reconnecting people with each other, their local area and art.
In addition to bringing colour and joy to the area, Beyond Boundaries aims to create sites of interaction for the Bankside community. Better Bankside and Tate Collective Producers evolved the project in dialogue with local residents and businesses, with each site-specific artwork informed by local stories. The artworks celebrate the character and creativity of Bankside – a neighbourhood that has experienced constant reinvention.
The artworks will remain in place for at least 12 months, find out more about the artists involved below and view the locations here.
Zeinab Saleh, Tunes for your head top
What songs got you through lockdown? What held you during this period? What does music mean to you? Zeinab Saleh’s work invites you to consider the role that music plays in daily life, its power to uplift, provoke thought, generate creativity and create connections.
Full address: 110 Southwark Street, SE1 0SU
Megan Visser, Gastro Gusto
Exploring digestion and congestion, Megan Visser invites us to think about the connection between food and community. The work explores the body – and public space – and creates an opportunity for us to eat, meet and reconnect with others.
Full address: 90 Southwark Street, SE1 0HX
Koby Martin, Spotlight Dreams and Broken Renovations
Koby Martin is a proud export of Ghana and has nurtured his talent in the UK. Delving into the transformation of Bankside, his artworks use memory to bring people together. Spotlight Dreams (wall) references the men who played female characters when women were banned from performing at Bankside’s theatres.
Full address: St. Felix Place, 45 Southwark Street, SE1 9HP
Hannah Hill, He(art) is Everywhere
A series of motifs celebrate local history and take a deep look at the people and trades that have existed in the area. Central to Hannah Hill’s piece is a hand holding a scale representing the hope for a healthy work/life balance post pandemic.
Full address: 158 Great Suffolk Street, SE1 9PE & 199 Southwark Bridge Road, SE1 0ED
Blk Moody Boi, Safely Trans Outside
What does it mean to be safe outside? As we re-emerge after lockdown, Blk Moody Boi reflects on the daily experience of communities who must consider how they move through public spaces.
Full address: 14 Gambia Street, SE1 0XH
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We will be unveiling all artworks on our Bankside London Instagram this week. Follow us for a sneak peek if you are unable to visit in person or join the conversation using #BeyondBoundariesBankside.
Beyond Boundaries is a collaboration between Better Bankside and Tate Collective, Tate’s Young People’s Programme. Find out more at tate.org.uk
The artworks were installed by Absolutely Studio, an experienced independent art studio specialising in murals, and FM Conway who provide infrastructure services in the built environment and public realm.
We’d also like to send a big thank you to Lee Fitzgerald Architects, Terry’s Café, Omnicom Group and Cardinia Real Estate, Blue Fin Building and Oxford Properties, London Venue Group, Mar I Terra, and the family of Marion Marples, for their permissions to use the selected locations.