King Edward Memorial Park, Tideway, London
King Edward Memorial Park, London: Cargoes, Hew Locke OBE
Year
2025
Client
fereday pollard for Tideway
Artist
Hew Locke OBE
Service
Commission Management
Location
King Edward Memorial Park, Wapping, London
A permanent commission for King Edward Memorial Park
Hew Locke was commissioned by Tideway to create a series of permanent public artworks for King Edward Memorial Park. The site will open to the public later this year.
The ‘cultural meander’ or heritage theme for the East section of the tunnel is The Shipping Parishes – Gateway to the World. Within this context, the site-specific narrative for King Edward Memorial Park centres on Sailortown, international diaspora and progressive politics.
In response to Tideway’s Heritage Interpretation Strategy (HIS), Locke developed a sculptural artwork drawing on the site's close historical ties to mercantile and dock communities, and the far-reaching impact of Britain’s maritime power and trading empire on diverse ethnic, social, and economic groups, both locally and globally.
The completed artwork comprises a series of cast bronze boats, each referencing different periods, communities, and vessels historically associated with the Thames. Inspired by extensive research into the symbolic and cultural significance of ships – as vessels for travel, trade, and transformation, and as metaphors for human passage – Locke incorporated intricate decorative details and cargoes reflecting these layered histories.
His research process included consultation with local residents and community groups – such as the Boitok Group (St Hilda’s East Community Centre), the Coriander Club (Spitalfields City Farm), and the Hermitage Community Moorings – as well as institutional partners like the National Maritime Museum and Museum of London. These conversations informed the inclusion of specific motifs and elements within the artworks.
The final artworks include a Tug, Chinese Junk, Flat Barge, Carrack, Thames Sailing Barge, and a Bangladesh River Boat – each a patchwork of the evolving identity of East London. Each vessel also carries numerous decorations, object and images referencing different histories and peoples who have used the Thames over the centuries from Celtic times. Ranging in scale (approx. 1000mm long and 300mm wide), the boats are placed on low plinths or integrated into the landscaping of the park, forming a trail that leads visitors toward the river. The sculptures are strategically positioned to be discovered at different levels and vantage points, offering moments of reflection and connection to the River Thames.
Fabricated in bronze using the lost wax process, the sculptures were developed by the artist in close collaboration with skilled fabricators. Full-scale models were made by Locke, capturing rich surface textures and detail. These were translated into bronze through a multi-stage casting process involving 3D printed patterns, rubber and plaster moulds, wax models, and detailed finishing work and patination.
Cargoes form a powerful sculptural trail linking King Edward Memorial Park to the river, inviting audiences to engage with the layered histories of the Thames and the people who have travelled it.
For more information on the site’s history see Tideway’s Heritage Interpretation Strategy.
“Here’s the thing: Guyana means ‘land of many waters’ – you are constantly aware of boats. ”
The artist has said:
“The boats are set low, as I want to encourage touching, curiosity and interaction - they are conversation pieces, and a landmark. Human figures are not depicted – you can imagine yourself aboard. In many cultures, ships are symbolic of a persons’ passage through life and as a container of the soul.
“I have not created accurate models of boats, but sculptural re-imaginings, incorporating decoration and symbolism. The real cargo of these boats are the exchange of cultures, goods and ideas.”
The patterns were made by Arteffects, sculptures cast by SPACER and patinated by Arch Bronze.
“I went to Guyana as a five-year-old kid on a boat. I came back here on a boat. So many things, good and bad, travel by sea.”
Hew Locke explores the languages of historical and contemporary power, how different cultures fashion their identities through visual symbols of authority, and how these representations are altered by the passage of time. Locke completed his MA in Sculpture at the Royal College of Art.
He has realised several high-profile public art commissions including “The Jurors” marking 800 years of Magna Carta, at Runnymede. He was elected a member of the Royal Academy of Arts in 2022, was made an OBE in 2023, and an Honorary Doctorate by Edinburgh University in 2024. His work has been represented in countless exhibitions in the UK and abroad, and is included in prestigious collections worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum in New York and the Tate Collection, London.
For more information see: http://hewlocke.net/
The site and artworks were previewed on the 3rd September by the HRH The Duke of Gloucester, more information is here.
For more information see:
www.tideway.london