Windrush 2021
2021 saw a collaboration with Create London to deliver a series of art activations to complement the arrival of Hackney’s Windrush Art Commission. And as the UK began to emerge from lockdown, microgrant activity resumed with fantastic results!
Working with Create London, and to gear up residents for their new Windrush artworks, 2021’s activity saw a series of art commissions that highlighted the artistic contributions of Windrush descendants. This included working with Halina Edwards for her Flags About Home artworks which hung outside Vogue Fabrics Dalston. Billboards also presented images from 2019’s Real Selfie Project in collaboration with Autograph gallery across the borough.
Artist Halina Edwards and her Flags About Home public display outside Vogue Fabrics.
Martine Rose tea-towel commission
London-based fashion designer Martine Rose was commissioned to create a gift to the Windrush Generation in Hackney and produced a limited-edition teatowel, designed using patterns taken from her AW19 collection. The prints pay homage to traditional Afro Caribbean kitchen-alia and feature a traditional ackee and saltfish recipe. Martine Rose said: “It’s an absolute privilege to contribute in a very small way to honour the Windrush generation and show my sincerest gratitude for the sacrifices they made for us. Thank you, elders”. Read more about the artworks and see the designs on Create London.
Cllr Carole Williams and former Mayor of Hackney Philip Glanville hold Martine Rose’s Windrush artwork.
Microgrant highlights
2021’s festival contained a mixture of live and online events as social distancing measures slowly began to lift. St Michaels and All Angels Church screened their Windrush Pioneers documentary, a new plaque was unveiled at the Uprising Community Club, and the Vortex Jazz Club curated a special event from poet and trumpeter Shake Keane. As well as Hackney Caribbean Elderly Association’s community gathering, Peace in the Streets paid homage to Windrush Heroes with a red carpet awards ceremony at Hackney Picturehouse.
Hackney Windrush Artwork Commission: Veronica Ryan
In Autumn 2021 Veronica Ryan’s now Turner-winning sculptures ‘Custard Apple, Breadfruit and Soursop’ - situated by St Augustine’s Tower, were unveiled as part of Black History Season in October making her the first Black woman artist to have a public permanent artwork dedicated to the Windrush generation. The works were inspired by her memories of visiting Ridley Road Market as a child. This was the first of two new public artworks as part of the Hackney Windrush Artwork Commission.
Read more about the commission in the downloadable document or visit the press release for more information.
Watch: The moment Veronica Ryan saw the works for the first time and how the sculptures were installed!
Veronica Ryan OBE on the launch of Hackney’s first public permanent artworks to honour the Windrush Generation