The London School of Mosaic has unveiled a vibrant new art installation celebrating the River Thames designed by internationally acclaimed artist, Adam Nathaniel Furman.
Located in The Shard Quarter and spanning 57 metres along London Bridge bus station, the project has been led by Dr Silvie Jacobi, Director of London School of Mosaic. The Shard has been named a sponsor of the newest public mosaic, titled ‘In a River a Thousand Streams’.
Dr Silvie Jacobi, Director of London School of Mosaic:
“This vibrant new mosaic installation stands as a testament to the creativity and hard work of all our schools’ artists, dedicated volunteers, and designs from Adam Nathaniel Furman. It marks the largest mosaic our school has produced to date and we’re extremely proud to be sharing the uplifting display with the thousands of people who pass through the station every day.”
The artwork celebrates the diverse tapestry of Londoners and their achievements, capturing the dynamic energy of the city. Created by a mixture of 250,000 colourful tesserae, taking two years and more than 70 volunteers to bring to life, the new artwork contours the shape of the surrounding architecture as well as the natural flow of its inspiration, the River Thames.
A collaborative effort spearheaded by Dr Silvie Jacobi, whose team also partnered with Network Rail to fund, fabricate and install the mosaic, the visual experience of the mosaic is expected to be walked past by over 20 million people each year and predicted to last for at least 150 years.
Alongside other supporters, including The Arts Council, Southwark Council, and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Shard had the honour of sponsoring an instalment, showing its support of the cultural landscape of the neighbourhood and the craftsmanship within London.
Occupiers of The Shard were given the opportunity to cast their votes on which section of the mosaic the iconic building would sponsor. The winning selection fell upon a panel artfully mirroring the building’s own striking silhouette, a testament to the occupiers’ affinity for their soaring home.
The new installation marks the second collaboration between The Shard and The London School of Mosaic. The 2023 Christmas lights for London’s tallest building were developed with traditional mosaic artistry by the school, with the mosaic-inspired designs brought to life across the top 20 stories.
