Ryan Gander's first permanent public sculpture in London unveiled at Elephant Park

9 October 2024

On 8 October, artist Ryan Gander unveiled six life-sized bronze sculptures at Elephant Park, created in collaboration with South London Gallery, year 4 school pupils, and the Contemporary Art Society. The artist's first piece of public art in London was created through a series of workshops with children from three local primary schools, with the works now available to view in the two-acre park in Elephant & Castle.

During the workshops, led by Gander and the South London Gallery education team, the children explored possibilities for their futures together, and engaged in place-making activities relevant to their personal, local, and global contexts. The project’s aim was to create positive stories for young people and help them reflect on the diversity and vibrancy of their own communities and future.

Ryan’s final artwork consists of three pairs of sculptures, each created in collaboration with local schools. One is a figurative sculpture, designed by students using clothing of their own choosing rather than clothes dictated by function or social convention. The other is an abstract sculpture, developed during a discussion-led workshop with Ryan at the end of 2021. When installed together, each sculptural pair showcases a unique interaction between the figurative and abstract elements, reflecting the artist’s interpretation and insights from class discussions.

Ryan’s work invites viewers to interpret their own associations and stories, engaging with their ability to imagine. The sculptures for Elephant Park depict children dressed in imaginative costumes, unconstrained by tradition or convention. Their choices represent pure imagination and agency, continuing Ryan’s exploration of play and make-believe as catalysts for creativity.

Located in Elephant Park, Ryan’s public sculptures enhance the area's existing cultural landscape. They demonstrate the power of art in a community and inspire the next generation of artists and creative thinkers. The completed work creates an engaging trail for
everyone to explore and enjoy.

Artist Ryan Gander said: “Elephant & Castle has always been a really special part of London, through all its historic iterations. When we think about place we often think about 'as it is' or 'as it was' but seldom do we envisage para-possible futures, what a place 'could be’. This form of ‘Imagineering' takes great cognitive ingenuity and inventiveness, and so it seemed really apparent and fitting to me that working with those with the most active imaginations and those who know the place the best - namely the young people who live in the area - would be the most catalytic approach.”