…By Babatunde Lucas for TDPel Media.
To honor Pride in London, queer artist Adam Nathaniel Furman has brought his vibrant and daring designs to Canary Wharf.
His technicolor permanent art installation adorns the industrial pillars and underside of Adams Plaza Bridge, adding a burst of color to the daily commute of the tens of thousands of visitors to Canary Wharf.
Representing All Communities and Backgrounds
Mr. Furman, a London-based artist and designer of Japanese and Argentine heritage, aimed to create a public space that welcomes “all communities and backgrounds.”
His inspiration is derived from a desire to make urban spaces diverse and interesting, and the unveiling of his artwork on Thursday marked a step towards achieving this vision.
A Queer Icon’s Influence
The permanent installation serves as the architectural-scale equivalent of the iconic ruby shoes worn by queer icon Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz.”
It is the latest addition to Canary Wharf Group’s collection of Mr. Furman’s artwork titled “Click Your Heels Together Three Times.”
An Accessible Art Collection
Canary Wharf Group strives to make its permanent art collection as accessible as possible, catering to a diverse audience.
Camilla Mcgregor, Events Manager at Canary Wharf Group, emphasized the importance of selecting artworks and creating spaces that truly represent their varied audiences.
Adam’s celebratory Pride piece joins other commissioned works from artists such as Lothar Gotz, Yinka Ilori, Sinta Tantra, and Lawson Oyekan.
Interactive Experiences and Digital Guide
Visitors to the area can enjoy a visit to the Crossrail Place Roof Garden and print Mr. Furman’s poems for free from a short story station.
Additionally, short story stations in Canada Place and Jubilee Place offer similar experiences.
The six poems delve into the context of “Click Your Heels Together Three Times” and provide a personal account of the artwork’s creation.
Canary Wharf Group has also launched its own digital art guide on the Bloomberg Connects app.
An Internationally Renowned Artist
Adam Nathaniel Furman’s artwork has been exhibited in major cities worldwide, including Paris and New York, and is held in various museums.
Last year, he published the book “Queer Spaces,” which was shortlisted for the Colvin Prize.
The book is an anthology of LGBTQIA+ places around the world, co-authored with Josh Mardell.
Closure of Pride Month with the Annual Parade
Pride Month in London concludes this Saturday with the highly anticipated annual parade.
Led by Mayor Sadiq Khan, the parade is expected to attract massive crowds.
Last year’s London Pride set attendance records, with over a million people joining to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the UK’s first parade.
Similar numbers are anticipated this year, creating a vibrant and inclusive celebration of diversity and equality.