Special Collections

People of all ages and backgrounds contributed to Newham Trackside Wall and this diversity is reflected in the variety of voices and perspectives included in the final artwork. The Special Collections are the result of targeted engagement with residents across generations, from children, to young people, to members of the Royal British Legion.

YOUNG PEOPLE

Particular efforts were made to ensure young people’s voices featured on the wall. In the winter of 2017/2018, many young people were affected by violence in the area, which impacted on their ability and desire to participate in a public project. As a response, the artist organised dedicated workshops to encourage them to share their ideas and experiences in a safe environment. They creatively responded to their local area through poetry writing and by sharing meaningful songs, many of which feature on the wall.

During the installation of the artwork, one testimony written by a young person, Like A Village, prompted concern amongst some of the residents living close by. Following consultation, a majority of the artwork steering panel voted to remove the section on the grounds that some of the wording could upset bereaved families. Removing the panel and therefore leaving the artwork unfinished, has withdrawn the testimony from public view on the wall, but it is preserved on this website and in the project archive as a valued and truthful perspective on life in the area.

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION CAP BADGES

The artist visited the Royal British Legion Parade in November 2017 and was invited to visit their Newham headquarters where she took photographs of the cap badges presented on the wall. The Newham Trackside Wall runs along the route of their annual parade and the cap badges can be seen on the section of wall near their headquarters in Silvertown.

MY FAVOURITE PLACE

Displayed near Custom House station, a series of drawings and testimonies illustrate a group of local childrens’ favourite places in the neighbourhood. These were created during a workshop with pupils from St Joachim’s Primary School.

I WANT TO SEE

Newham Trackside Wall is commissioned by Crossrail, curated by UP Projects and engineered by Atkins. As part of the engagement process, Sonia asked residents what they wanted to see on the wall. The responses were wide ranging and feature in the final artwork as a tribute to their ideas.