Part of our Cultural Strategy for St William’s Prince of Wales Drive development, our brief was to add interest to the road that the development shares its name with, to integrate something unique which would function as a welcoming gateway and aid the refurbishment of a neglected railway arch. Connecting Battersea Park to the new development, it was important the artwork be enjoyable for passers-by and soften the transition from the park’s green space through into Nine Elms.

With curator Theresa Bergne, we commissioned London-based artist Amalia Pica to produce a large-scale design for a wall based work. Pica chose to highlight and celebrate the beauty within the diverse ecosystem of Battersea Park, and the organisms that inhabit it.

Her piece has created a new, colourful and engaging public space as part of this residential-led development, designed by Squire and Partners, that will transform a five-acre, former gasworks site.

The work will form part of a collection of public art in and around the Nine Elms regeneration area that will aid wayfinding and animate the changing public realm.

“This has been a fantastic opportunity to transform a challenging dark neglected public thoroughfare and instigate the creation of a new artist commission. It’s been very positive collaborating with Amalia, Theresa, and the steering group and we are very proud of the final outcome.”

David Pierce
Dallas-Pierce-Quintero

Collaborating with curator Theresa Bergne, and a steering group that included St.William’s Managing Director, Wandsworth Council’s Cultural Planning Manager and the Nine Elms Vauxhall Partnership Head of Culture, we considered a longlist of artists. Four shortlisted artists were invited to produce initial responses to the brief, which were presented at interview.

“Amalia Pica’s vision for this work caught our attention at the selection process. The process has captured the imaginations of everyone involved so far and we are excited to see how the artwork will shape the landscape and how the public will interact with it.”

Alison Dowsett
Managing Director, St William

Consideration of the durability and robustness of the artwork in this sensitive location was paramount. Dallas-Pierce-Quintero worked with the client and Network Rail to agree a methodology for the artwork. It was agreed that a digitally-printed porcelain tiled artwork could be attached directly to the rail arch walls. Tiling will allow the work, which will be subject to traffic and dust, to be cleaned as needed by St William.

For this commission, Pica and microbiologist Joanne Santini from UCL collected samples of soil and water from the gardens and the ponds of nearby Battersea Park. The resulting artwork uncovers the mysteries that a microscope can reveal, of the multiplicity of life that exists there. A learning programme to creatively engage with local people will coincide with the artwork launch.

“While the beautiful patterns created by plant cells and unicellular organisms will appear quite abstract, I have taken advantage of their decorative aspects while also retaining their educational value. From afar they will appear as biomorphic patterns, but when looked at closely one will be able to know exactly which organisms they depict.”

Amalia Pica
Artist

Amalia Pica was born in Neuquén Capital, Argentina and lives and works in London. Her practice is wide ranging including sculpture, drawing, photography, installation, performance and film. Her work is exhibited internationally and explores forms of communication, metaphor and social engagement.

Public collections including Tate, London; Guggenheim, New York; Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago and Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam.

Battersea, London
2016-2018
St William
Photography: Dan Fontanelli