Gallery 1957 is delighted to announce a new public art commission by Godfried Donkor – the internationally celebrated British Ghanaian artist whose work has also been exhibited at the ICA, Smithsonian, Tate Modern and Venice Biennale.
This new public art commission has recently been unveiled at Denmark Hill station in Camberwell, London.
Godfried’s work for Denmark Hill station will mark the artist’s first permanent public commission, he will be working with a wide range of local partners - including, the Camberwell Identity Group, Network Rail, Govia Thameslink, Kings College Hospital and the Maudsley - to bring this new artwork to Camberwell.
Selected through an open-call process, Godfried’s proposal offers a new take on the traditional adinkra symbolism of Ghana. Like emojis, but created hundreds of years earlier, adinkras offer a short-hand – often humorous - representation of shared lessons, proverbs and philosophies. They have the potential to encapsulate collective values and reflect on the health of our communities in these unprecedented times.
Artist Godfried Donkor says: “I am honoured to be commissioned by the Camberwell Society to create new work for such a well-used public space. Having become intrigued by adinkras in recent years, I look forward to sharing this enthusiasm and working with local residents to select those that best represent the area - as well as collectively creating a new adinkra to celebrate Camberwell’s unique mix of art, health and community.
This public artwork, forms part of a £7.5million, carbon-positive station improvement by Network Rail, funded by the Department for Transport, that incorporates a range of new art and design elements to enhance the visual environment for station users.
Godfried will also be delivering a number of workshops in partnership with local community groups and schools, including Dog Kennell Hill Adventure Playground, Love Walk Residential Centre, the Maudsley and Sacred Heart School.
