After the successful debut of Chelsea Barracks’ first Sculpture Trail during its Spring Fair in May, Chelsea Barracks is delighted to add to its art programme with the launch of its second Sculpture Trail. Unveiled this October, just in time for the schools’ half term, the public art walk and free outdoor exhibition is curated around the theme of environmentalism.
The trail will feature pieces by world-class artists; two sculptures were sourced from the prestigious Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, which this year had the theme of ‘Climate’. The landscape of Chelsea Barracks will once again be enlivened by engaging and immersive sculptures – some working with light and sound – allowing the public to explore art amongst nature in the beautiful public grounds of Chelsea Barracks, rich in heritage, culture and community.
The Sculpture Trail’s theme of sustainability and environmental responsibility is pertinent and also reflects the wider ethos of the Chelsea Barracks development. The development was awarded LEED Platinum status in 2021, making it the most sustainable development in Europe. The curation of sculptures by Marshall Murray all explore the modern themes of conservation and environmental activism.
The sculpture trail will raise public awareness by guiding the viewer to look at the sculptures in an ecological, environmental and sustainable context, linking the sculptures in the heart of the city to the natural world and initiate conversations about relevant topics like climate change. The artworks differ in scale and medium, from charred wood to bronze, each unique design juxtaposing the architecture of Chelsea Barracks.
“At the very core of Chelsea Barracks’ community initiative is a commitment to creating a space for people to connect and spend time in. After such positive feedback received from the community on our phase 1 trail that was launched in the Spring, we’re delighted to reveal our second installation. The pieces have been curated around the themes of sustainability and environmental responsibility which are at the heart of our ethos, and carefully chosen to complement and reflect their surroundings at Chelsea Barracks. We’re looking forward to seeing both residents and the wider neighbourhood explore the new sculpture trail throughout the coming months.” Debora Fisher-Smith, Head of Placemaking and Partnerships, Chelsea Barracks
Visitors entering Chelsea Barracks from the Chelsea Bridge Road entrance will be greeted by Petroc Sesti’s Tree Beacon, emerging from the development’s central water feature. Sesti’s work pushes the boundaries of art and science, exploring in particular the ever-changing relationships between artwork, the viewer and the environment in which they are placed.
Sesti is a co-founder of Platform Earth, an organisation which aims to bring together artists and scientists to deal with the pressing environmental issues that face humanity. Tree Beacon is a sculpture created from laser scans of an iconic rainforest buttress tree in Sumatra, Indonesia. To make the piece he collaborated with scientists using a laser scanning technology that quantifies the amount of carbon locked in the complex system of the rainforest. Tree Beacon was launched in support of the World Land Trust on their 30th anniversary celebration in London, attended by their patron Sir David Attenborough.
