A series of community consultations organised by Rosetta Arts have helped shape the Mayor of London’s memorial to honour key workers and commemorate Londoners who have lost their lives to COVID-19.
In October, Rosetta Arts collaborated with four socially engaged local artists to deliver a varied programme of community consultations for the new landscape of blossom trees, which Sadiq Khan announced on Friday 27 November.
The public tribute will take the form of three rings of blossoming trees, which will be planted in memory of the thousands of lives lost in the capital as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.
A total of 33 trees – one for each London borough – will be planted in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford early next year as part of the memorial.
The community sessions conducted by Rosetta Arts used creative tools across photography, sound and music, visual arts and poetry, and illustration to collate input from east London residents.
Sylvia Morgado (poetry and visual arts), the lead artist on the project delivered workshops along with Larissa De Filippo (music and film); Ada Jusic (illustration); and Sylvie Ganachaud (photography) – were selected via the Rosetta Arts Artists Accelerator scheme supporting emerging socially engaged practitioners. The programme is supported by Get Living and the Foundation for Future London.
Each of the eight sessions, which took place in person and online, explored participants’ lived experiences, feelings and thoughts around COVID-19, lockdown and its implications, and introduced the planned Blossom Project.
East London residents shared their opinions on a number of aspects including the tone of the installation, how affected communities could be represented and how the project should develop over time.
Sylvia’s workshops with Tower Hamlets residents involved participants reflecting on the pandemic’s impact on their senses of smell and taste, and how the Blossom Project could provide an opportunity to become closer to nature.
She said she hopes the Blossom Ring will be a “beautiful, sensory and inclusive space for reflection for everyone who visits it”.
In Larissa’s sessions, Hackney residents shared the sounds they would like to hear in the commemorative space after exploring ones that had resonated with them throughout lockdown.
Larissa said: “I believe that from so much hardship and sadness this is an opportunity to create something meaningful for all.”
Residents of Newham, one of the worst hit boroughs by the pandemic, spoke of their desire for the remembrance area to be a quiet and reflective place during workshops led by Sylvie.
Space was a prominent theme in the sessions led by Ada, which invited participants to reflect on the stories and colours they felt had characterised their experience of the pandemic.
“Stories are a powerful tool that can inform design, by having participants share their personal stories means that the space is designed with the needs and desires of those who will use it in mind,” Ada said.
Zoe Hardie, deputy CEO at Rosetta Arts, said: “It’s been an honour for us at Rosetta to lead the local engagement for the Blossom Project, drawing on our deep roots into the communities of Newham and wider East London to ensure they have a voice in shaping the commemoration. This process has of course been a stark reminder of the colossal impact that the pandemic has had, and we are grateful to everyone who has participated in sharing their very personal and often difficult stories, as well as their ideas about how to encourage the site to be a place of reflection and healing.”
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on our city and our country, and while we continue to battle the virus we are creating a lasting, living memorial to commemorate those who have lost their lives, pay tribute to the amazing work of our key workers and create a space for all Londoners to reflect on the experience of the pandemic.”
View the Press Release from Mayor of London
Main photo and second photo by Sylvie Ganachaud
