'Thames Made Modern' by Artbash

'Thames Made Modern' is an artwork and poem project, at Globe View, on the north bank of the River Thames.

It is a multi-generational project, by ARTBASH, alongside the architects Rivington Street Studio and in collaboration with the lighting designers FPOV.

The artwork was developed following a series of workshops with several different communities.

The artwork is a layered montage. The backgrounds were painted by the children of Aldgate Primary School, who were inspired by mudlarking activities that they had participated in. 

The buildings were then added by students from Haggerston Community School, inspired by the views at Globe View.

It was a collaborative effort, by artists, residents and the congregation of St James Garlickhythe, that added the wildlife to the artwork. The congregation also helped with the poem.

The poem uses The Doves Type typeface. This typeface was believed lost, in 1916, when a disgruntled printer, TJ Cobden-Sanderson, threw his famous typeface into the River Thames, to spite his business partner. However, in 2014, the original metal type was salvaged from the River Thames by divers and mudlarks. With the type now in hand, Robert Green, a graphic designer, set about digitally reconstructing it and so was able to use it here.

In all there are six paintings, each with its own piece of poetry, which can be found below.

Mighty heart, mighty London
Spanning. Timeless
Ethelred's Hythe to Queenhithe
Welcoming Charles II's landing
Southwark Bridge in steel stealing Dicken's heart
Riverside House looking buoyant
Glorious views from Globe View
Blues, greens, aquamarines & a glimpse of grey

European Eels swarming and waving
With shoals of Bream chasing & biting
The ebb, the flow, the perpetual flux
Thames made modern

Mighty heart, mighty London
Striking & stately
Surveying its post from up tall
Poking its head above all
The Shard nods to tall ships of long ago
With the furriers, skinners & frost fairs echo
Glorious views from Globe View
Blues, greens, aquamarines & a peremptory purple
Starry Smooth-Hound Sharks with their bright spots
Welcome Smelt that look like small silvery dots
The ebb, the flow, the perpetual flux
Thames made modern

Mighty heart, mighty London
Built & rebuilt
Reaching perfection
Blackfriars Bridge's iron arches
Traversing the Thames in spectacular fashion
Nodding to the Globe's dramatic enactments
Glorious views from Globe View
Blues, greens, aquamarines & a wordy white
Salmon rushing upward
Seahorses moving vertically
The ebb, the flow, the perpetual flux
Thames made modern

Mighty heart, mighty London
History rests its head
Wandering the worshipful companies' medieval guilds
To Salvation Army's charitable aims fulfilled
Vintners, Painter Stainers galore
And St James Garlickhythe's ancient lore
Glorious views from Globe View
Blues, greens, aquamarines & a yearning yellow
As seals propel themselves from side to side
Swans glide majestically
As seagulls with wings flapping & wild
Look on at the Geese, in their large flocks, powerful and riled
The ebb, the flow, the perpetual flux
Thames made modern

Mighty heart, mighty London
Power station becomes art
Innovation & dialogue translate
At the hands of Sir Henry Tate
Everlasting
Glorious views from Globe View
Blues, greens, aquamarines & an ode to orange
Porpoises' ultrasonic click
Whales with a continuous flick
The ebb, the flow, the perpetual flux
Thames made modern

Mighty heart, mighty London
From Traitor's Gate to tourist boats
To the might of Sir Christopher Wren
Always there. Always changing
Bridges of old to the Millennium new
Glorious views from Globe View
Blues, greens, aquamarines & a dome of Portland pink
Pigeons strutting their stuff
While Rats squeeze through the rough
The ebb, the flow, the perpetual flux
Thames made modern

So, the next time you are walking along the north bank of the River Thames, stop at Globe View and admire the paintings and poem, adorning the wall, before turning and taking in the view along the river.