'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