ANNIVERSARY FIRES CREATIVITY AT THE MALL WALTHAMSTOW
NEW SCULPTURE LIGHTS UP THE MALL WALTHAMSTOW
REMEMBRANCE THROUGH CREATIVITY AS THE MALL WALTHAMSTOW
MARKS A SIGNIFICANT ANNIVERSARY
Local
artist and sculptor, Jonathan O’Dea is set to unveil an impressive two-metre
sculpture at The Mall Walthamstow on 22 July 2020 to mark the anniversary of
the fire, which swept through the shopping centre a year ago.
At
approximately 7.40am on 22 July 2019, a large fire broke out at The Mall. Although
there were no fatalities, half of the roof collapsed and the shopping centre
sustained extensive damage, which meant that it was unable to reopen until September.
Entitled
‘After the Fire’, the commemorative work of art was crafted from the remains of
the blaze and is now displayed near the Town Square entrance of The Mall, near
CeX and Sports Direct. Jonathan, who lives just metres from the shopping centre
and witnessed the fire from his back garden, used charred wood from the burnt-out
roof to produce the sculpture.
During
creation of the poignant sculpture, Jonathan filmed himself over a six-week
period, beautifully capturing the key stages of development. The time-lapse
video is set against a haunting soundtrack, recorded by folk musicians, Michael
Walsh and Liz Hanks.
“It
acts as a small window into the creation of art and culture, which often goes
unseen by the public,” says Jonathan.
As an artist, Jonathan is well known for his use of recycled building
materials. For previous projects, Jonathan gathered materials from the
construction of the Olympic Park in East London and the city’s Crossrail
Project.
Jonathan explains: “My interest in using recycled materials is
connected with my experience of working in the construction industry. The short
time I spent working on the Jubilee extension line in the 1990s had a profound
impact on me and later shaped my ideas and thinking around art.”
The concept of regeneration – turning something old into something new
- resonates throughout Jonathan’s work and this latest project for The Mall,
adds to the narrative. It also reflects the culture of his hometown of Walthamstow,
which has seen huge changes over the last 15 years. Jonathan reflects on these
changes by exploring how regeneration can impact our sense of identity and
visual culture.
“Jonathan
is a hugely talented artist and it is wonderful to see something so creative and
inspiring come out of the fire. It has been a very difficult year for The Mall Walthamstow,
with the devastation of the fire and the impact of Covid-19 but this is a very
positive sign that we are moving on and looking ahead to the future,” comments
General Manager, Rebecca Bird.
The
sculpture will remain on display in the centre and is also available to
purchase. Jonathan has generously agreed to donate 50% of his fee to The Mall’s
chosen charity, the Retail Trust. Anyone who is interested in purchasing ‘After
the Fire’ should contact Jonathan via his website at www.jonathanodea.com.
