In his first piece of London public art, Ryan Gander has created six life-size bronze sculptures specifically for Elephant Park…
Award-winning British artist Ryan Gander’s first public art sculpture in London is called Know Not Your place in the World, 2024, features six life-sized bronze sculptures, designed in three pairs – and has been unveiled right here, in Elephant Park.
Commissioned by Lendlease, the creative process started with a series of workshops with children from three local primary schools, led by Ryan and the South London Gallery education team. The purpose? To create positive stories for young people that reflect on the diversity and vibrancy of their own communities and their place in the world.
Each pair of sculptures features kids dressed in clothes they want to, rather than have to wear (so fancy dress and pimped crocs replace everyday functional clothing and school uniform) with each figurative sculpture paired beside an abstract – showcasing a unique interaction between the two. Bringing the artist’s interpretation and insights from the workshops together, and the children’s imaginations to life, freed by the lack of rules - and continuing Ryan’s exploration of play and make believe.
These new artworks show the power of art in a community to uplift and inspire the next generation of artists and creative thinkers, enhancing this area's growing reputation as a cultural landscape.
The Future Sketchbook
Ryan’s works come with a sketchbook designed to encourage children to look up and draw what they see above them and aims to promote creative thinking and inspire kids to reflect on their surroundings, as well as view everything through the lens of their imaginations. Each chapter has been created to give them chance to create a future they want to see. You can download your free digital copy of The Future Sketchbook here, and get creating!
About Ryan
Ryan Gander RA OBE (born 1976, Chester, UK) lives and works in Suffolk and London. He studied at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK; the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten, Amsterdam, Netherlands; and the Jan van Eyck Akademie, Maastricht, Netherlands. The artist has been a Professor of Visual Art at the University of Huddersfield and holds an honorary Doctor of the Arts at the Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Suffolk. In 2017 he was awarded an OBE for services to contemporary art. In 2019 he was awarded the Hodder Fellowship at Princeton University. In 2022, he was made RA for the category of Sculpture.
Photos by Thierry Bal - https://www.instagram.com/thierry_bal/