Hackney’s grey walls and drab pavements could be a thing of the past as a community group unveiled its first art project earlier this month, and look across the borough for other areas to brighten up.
The Roman-inspired mosaics celebrating life in Hackney will be officially unveiled at a ceremony in Shepherdess Walk park, where the mosaics have been installed in a corner that had been largely neglected.
The History In The Making project is the brainchild of Tessa Hunkin, an artist who found inspiration in Roman and North African mosaics.
The idea to replicate the mosaics struck her while she was working with a group of people with mental health problems, and she resolved to create an art-focused community which embraced those who are usually socially excluded, while also capturing the spirit of the 2012 Olympic Games.
She was soon joined by people who had been referred from Lifeline, a charity delivering community drug services within the borough. The group grew from a core of 10-12 people to a larger transient group of around 150 people, some of whom only participated in one or two workshops.
Tessa said of the project and the mixture of people: “There’s a very social element to the project. The idea was to create a relaxing calming place where people could come and do something that took their mind off their problems, and also just meet and chat with other people.”
The mosaics themselves portray ordinary life in Hackney, and bear a striking resemblance to ancient mosaics – although they have a uniquely modern twist. Some of the figures are portrayed using smartphones and other 20th century gadgets.
Talking about the finished project, Tessa said: “I’m absolutely thrilled that we managed to complete the Shepherdess Walk park project. It was my idea that we should concentrate on a very small area, and I think we have managed to make something that’s very unique. I’m very, very proud of the work that everybody has done.”
The group are currently working on an entertainment-themed commission for a branch of Sainsbury’s in Hoxton, and with continued funding for another year, hope to tackle new projects around the borough.
