Lead Artist | Site-Specific Installation | Lewisham Borough of Culture 2022–23
In partnership with Cockpit Studios, Lewisham Council, and the Mayor of London
As lead artist for Murmuration, I co-created a large-scale, site-specific installation that celebrated the voices, aspirations, and creativity of Lewisham’s residents. Commissioned as part of Lewisham’s year as London Borough of Culture, the project was developed in partnership with Cockpit Studios and co-curated with artist Annika Cox. Our aim was to create an artwork that embodied community spirit and collective identity, while offering a moment of stillness, reflection, and connection.
On the very first day of the Borough of Culture year, I facilitated a drop-in workshop inviting members of the public to embroider their thoughts on community, belonging, and their hopes for Lewisham’s future onto recycled textiles. Using natural dyes and waste materials, I taught a variety of stitch techniques that enabled participants of all ages and abilities to express themselves. These embroidered reflections were then pieced together to form We Are Lewisham—a tactile, wearable map of the borough that visually captured the spirit of local voices.
Over the following months, I worked to bring the installation to life, coordinating with council staff, managing budgets and logistics, and supporting assistants to help deliver the final vision. I also led the design and production of over 2,000 origami birds that flowed in a suspended ‘murmuration’ through Forest Hill Library—symbolising migration, unity, and collective movement. The birds were handcrafted by Annika, myself, assistants and community members and represented the vibrancy and interconnectedness of the borough.
The finished installation became a permanent fixture at Forest Hill Library, and was later featured in The Sunday Telegraph. The project brought together residents, artists, and local organisations, and offered a joyful, sensory space where people could reflect, contribute, and feel part of something meaningful.
Murmuration stands as a testament to the power of socially engaged arts practice—rooted in care, collaboration, and community storytelling.
