EXHIBITION
A vivid, vibrant pavement carpet composed of interlocking, discursive decorative patterns transforms a stark concrete environment above Temple tube station (an expansive, dull area usually resistant to any and all passing individual consciousness) into an energised field of colourful design. The work of Ugandan British artist Lakwena Maciver, the geometric markings reference forms (textile and fabric motifs) of her African heritage, splayed out here across the length of the industrial space. A vaulted effort, open to the heavens, Maciver alludes to the Garden of Eden and a fallen species’ desire to reclaim an exalted land, recreating an original temple. A tall order for a mere outdoor installation, but the dazzling and bright pulse resonating from beneath the feet (and enlivening messages such as “Nothing can separate us”, which unspools along one spacious stretch of the piece) goes a long way in restoring any enervated spirit.
The first of a new series of Artist’s Gardens, sponsored by Westminster council (as part of their Inside Out festival) and co-commissioned by 180 Studios and a host of supporters, Maciver’s work may be best and most broadly appreciated in encompassing aerial shot (or from a few floors above), especially after having experienced it piecemeal from the ground. Curiously, and frustratingly, there exists a consistent lack of the work extending to the edges of the plaza, and while some practical explanation is no doubt applicable, the incompletion is noted visually, slightly disruptive to the eye. Back In the Air: A Meditation on Higher Ground runs through 30 April 2022
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