UP Projects curated four free guided walks around the Royal Docks hosted during August and November 2021 expanding upon the themes that inform Making Space, a series of four commissions by artist, Jessie Brennan.
Making Space is a multi-sited commission by London-based artist Jessie Brennan for the Royal Docks in Newham. Comprised of a series of large-scale artworks, Brennan’s commission takes visitors on a journey through the historic, social, political and economic factors that have impacted this area of London and shaped its identity.
The four guided walks respond to Brennan’s work led by:
- Writer and journalist, Owen Hatherley who explores the changing architectural and urban landscape of the Royal Docks.
- Poet and playwright, Inua Ellams who guides people through a series of site-specific literary responses to Brennan’s work.
- Sculptor and artist, Eloise Hawser who explores how new infrastructure has been implanted into the Royal Docks.
- Collaborative artists, Abigail Hunt and Kieren Reed who explores site-specific responses to the built environment through creative activities aimed specifically at young people aged 16-24.
You can download all four walks as which are available as self-guided walks below. To accompany each walk, a printable map can be downloaded and used on the day serving as a lasting legacy of the project.
Making Space and the associated walks programme has been curated by UP Projects and commissioned by the Royal Docks Team.
Podcasts
Spaces of Silvertown led by Owen Hatherley
🔊 Podcast
2021
Join writer and journalist Owen Hatherley on his guided walk on a route to see how architecture has responded to socio-political and economic changes to the area and altered the conditions for navigating the urban landscape.
Play and Place led by Inua Ellams
🔊 Podcast
2021
Join poet and playwright Inua Ellams on his guided walk on a route through the Royal Docks and guiding you through a series of site-specific literary responses to Making Space, a collection of public artworks by Jessie Brennan.
One of the most planned for spaces in the world led by Eloise Hawser
🔊 Podcast
2021
Join sculptor and artist Eloise Hawser on her guided walk on a route tracing the history of the dock’s infrastructure, especially its water systems, including the redevelopment of the marina, pumping stations, draining systems for the construction of London City Airport, and the newest plans for a proposed shipyard.
Between Walking and Making led by Abigail Hunt and Kieren Reed
🔊 Podcast
👤 Ages: All
Join collaborative artists Abigail Hunt and Kieren Reed for their guided walk Between Walking and Making as they lead you on a route that will explore site specific responses to the built environment, which will include a range of creative activities including drawing, large scale collaborative mark making and casting.
About Royal Docks Team
The Royal Docks Team is a joint initiative from the Mayor of London and Mayor of Newham, delivering a £314 million investment programme in the area over the next five years. Together with stakeholders and the community, the team is championing positive change and good growth in the Royal Docks.