New Public Plaza Opens in Acton Gardens
Art sculpture 'The People's Throne' placed at its centre
A large crowd of people turned up for the unveiling
A new public piazza has been officially opened in Acton Gardens.
The Central Plaza features ‘The People’s Throne’ designed by London-based artist and former South Acton resident, Adébayo Bolaji. It has been designed to represent the local community, with the sculpture incorporating seven key values about Acton Gardens.
The artist was on hand for the unveiling alongside Cllr Peter Mason, the Leader of Ealing Council, and representatives from Countryside Partnerships, L&Q and the Acton Gardens Community Board.
Adé is an artist with a burgeoning profile, with work previously featured in the New York Times and Forbes Magazine who draws inspiration from his time spent living on the South Acton estate.
Central Plaza sits at the heart of Acton Gardens and aims to provide a new meeting point for the community, with places to sit, play and exercise, including a children’s play area that frames Phase 8.2 and Phase 6.1. Phase 8.2 has been designed to enhance connections across the development, with Central Plaza framing the new primary link from Strafford Road to Avenue Park Road, linking the Acton Gardens Community Centre at the heart of the neighbourhood with the recently completed Phase 7.1 to the north.
Adébayo Bolaji on 'The People's Throne'
‘The People’s Throne’ sculpture incorporates a mural on the reverse which was designed with help from the local community and the youth centre, which Adé used to attend. This was achieved through a series of workshops that were hosted by the artist at the Acton Gardens Community Centre to develop his ideas, as well as working closely with those interested in the arts to create the sculpture.
The new sculpture builds on existing public art at Acton Gardens, which includes the ‘South Acton Tree of Life’, a mural created by internationally renowned artist Carrie Reichardt working alongside community groups.
Following the unveiling of the sculpture, the community took part in a series of art-centred activities and sessions in partnership with local charities and Community Chest fund recipients. Young Urban Art Foundation were also in attendance delivering four different workshops, comprising music production, DJ workshops, vocal recording, production and lyric writing and T-Art (Stencils on T-Shirts).
Adé said afterwards, “I am grateful for the opportunity to create ‘The People’s Throne’ for the new public square at the estate where I grew up. I wanted to respond to the spirit of the space, the actual space of the park, and also to the many positive memories I had as a child in this space. Children give us a sense of playfulness and wonder, a real sense of freedom, liberation and curiosity. I think these are qualities that we should never lose, qualities that being comfort and progress.
“I also love the symbol of the throne, but from the point of view of authority that empowers an individual and people, it really is for the people, especially since I spent a lot of time in the local community to draw inspiration for this piece.”
Councillor Peter Mason, Ealing Council’s leader, said: “We are delighted to be opening this new park. We know that access to spaces like this is so important for our health and wellbeing, and that parks and open spaces have huge benefits when it comes to air quality, environmental sustainability and climate resilience. It was also a real pleasure to see ‘The People’s Throne’ unveiled – a piece which encapsulates the community pride and identity here in Acton.”
Cllr Peter Mason with the artist and Daniel King of Countryside Partnerships
Daniel King, Managing Director, London West, Countryside Partnerships, added, “’The People’s Throne’ symbolises the importance of the local community to the Acton Gardens regeneration. The sculpture has been designed by a former resident of the South Acton estate, Adé Bolaji, with input from current residents, and it is a monument that everyone can be proud of to represent the incredible community here. It is also the centrepiece of the new Central Plaza, which will become a key hub for the local community at the centre of Acton Gardens and reflects how far we have come in our delivery of over 3,400 new, high-quality homes and community facilities in partnership with L&Q and Ealing Council.”
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October 19, 2023