“The Eye On The Road” by Helen Marshall comes to Southwark. Credit The People’s Picture.
A new artwork has been unveiled in Southwark this week. ‘The Eye On The Road’ takes pride of place at the back of Bermondsey Square overlooking Tower Bridge Road and is the work of esteemed digital artist, Helen Marshall of the People’s Picture. The giant photo mural is made up of 1,955 images reflecting the local history and present day activities in and around Tower Bridge Road. The eye itself is of the artist’s daughter and acts as a signature for her work.
The piece was jointly commissioned by Southwark Council and the local business association, the Tower Bridge Road Alliance, as part of a council initiative to boost local high streets. Local businesses successfully applied for funding from the council’s High Street Challenge scheme before tendering for an artist.
Helen Marshall, whose work includes “Face of World War One” which was commissioned by BBC World War One and an image of the Queen in commemoration of the monarch’s Jubilee celebration at Gatwick Airport, worked collaboratively with the Southwark local history service and local photographers to collate images reflecting the local history and present day activities in and around Tower Bridge Road.
Artist Helen Marshall, said: “It was a refreshing challenge working on this commission as it is my first street artwork and I think the location will capture the attention of many passers by. The artwork was composed of many photographs, in particular those of portraits of people who live and work in the area. These present day portraits are juxtaposed with faces of history, kindly gathered and lent by Southwark Council’s heritage department.”
Councillor Johnson Situ, Cabinet Member for Business, Employment and Culture, said: “Public art can be a unifying and exciting part of local community life. ‘The Eye On The Road’ has done so well in bringing businesses, residents and community groups together to help create a fantastic piece. Helen Marshall has excelled in using the creative process as an opportunity to celebrate the Tower Bridge Road community, past and present.”
Chair of the Tower Bridge Road Alliance and manager of Tower Tandoori, Suhel Ahmed said: “We are so proud to be home to this amazing piece of art ‘Eye on the Road’. It’s wonderful to see portraits of so many local people and businesses who make Tower Bridge Road the place it is today, featured in the mural.”
For more information about the People’s Picture, please click here.
