There are few cities in the world where you can witness life-size horse sculptures being submerged by a tidal river, or stare at miniature bone china shops piled high in a precarious-looking tower. London is the temporary home of both of these unique sculptural works.
The Rising Tide
Those who wish to see the Thames horse sculptures have only a few days left to do so (they are in-situ in Vauxhall until 30th September). Visitors will also have to view them around the time of low tide to be able to fully glimpse the sculptures before they disappear into the water. Up to two hours either side of low tide will allow this (go to the website www.totallythames.org for more detailed information).
The Rising Tide riverside installation encourges thought about climate change, rising sea levels and the condition of the planet's natural resources. Each of the four horses has an oil pump instead of a head, alluding to the problematic nature of relying on fossil fuels. Two of the horses heads are lowered in a grazing style- as though they are taking oil from the riverbed itself. It is no coincidence that their riders are men in suits, portraying the businessmen or politicians who are sitting back and allowing environmental degradation to happen all around them. The other two riders are children, representing innocent future generations who might suffer as a result of such negligence.
The artist who created these sculptures - Jason deCaires Taylor - has spent much of his working life championing the merits of the earth's waterways. As a diving instructor, naturalist and award-winning underwater photographer his understanding of this environment is second to none. Taylor is most famous for creating the world's first underwater sculpture park off the coast of Grenada. He also co-founded a museum near the coast of Cancun, where over 500 of his sculptural works can be seen submerged beneath the sea.
The Rising Tide was commissioned by Totally Thames - a September-long festival celebrating the river. The cement Shire horses are working horses deliberately chosen to highlight the industrial history of the Thames. They conjure up images of a time when the river was a key resource for manufacturing and transporting goods. Their location is also very appropriate. Just across the Thames are the Houses of Parliament - where laws are made that impact on the river and the city it supports.
The Rising Tide can be viewed from the riverside walkway next to 87-90 Albert Embankment, Vauxhall, London SE1 7TW (nearest station is Vauxhall).
The Tower of Babel
Not too far away is another unique sculptural installation, which is free to view at the V&A. The Tower of Babel is located close to the Grand Entrance of the museum. It is made up of 3000 bone china shops depicting real shop fronts found in the Capital. The artist - Barnaby Barford - cycled over 1000 miles to photograph the shops in each of London's postcodes. He then constructed a 6-metre-high tower, placing the lowest value shops at the bottom, with the higher-end retail outlets towards the top.
Visitors can look closely at the pound shops and bargain stores at the base but struggle to see the ones near the tip of the tower (without borrowing special V&A binoculars). This deliberately mirrors the real-life accessibility of the shops, with the most expensive being out of reach for many. It is a comment on the nature of retail in the Capital and the material aspirations of its consumers. Each of the fine bone china shops, manufactured in Stoke-on-Trent, is available to purchase exclusively from the V&A. Needless to say the high cost of each one, priced between £95 and £6000, is an ironic case of life imitating art!
The Tower of Babel is on display until 1st November in Gallery 50a.
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