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Wembley Park unveils Equilibrium, a new free public exhibition of art by women to mark International Women's Day
March 11, 2023
Wembley Park has unveiled a new series of public artworks to mark International Women's Day. Launching on March 8, 2023, the exhibition "Equilibrium" will feature works by international female artists exploring the search for balance, unity, harmony, and equality.
The hugely popular, free, outdoor art trail in Wembley Park has a reputation for exploring important issues. Previous exhibitions include The Pineapple Award-nominated "Figures of Change" for International Women's Day 2022, and "Visions of Home," works by Ukrainian artists that pay powerful tribute to their homeland.
Curated by the all-female London-based multidisciplinary studio Acrylicize, the new exhibition "Equilibrium" spans four key locations: the Spanish Steps between Arena Square and Wembley Stadium; an outdoor photography exhibition in Market Square; digital screens on Bobby Moore Bridge, Olympic Way, and White Horse Square; and three red telephone boxes at the Grade II listed OVO Arena Wembley.
The focal point is 'Steps for Change,' a digital design on graphic vinyl on the Spanish Steps. Commissioned by Acrylicize, "Steps for Change" aligns with the UN's theme for International Women's Day 2023, "DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality." The designs on the steps convey a sense of balance while celebrating women's strength in the digital world.
This power is also celebrated in the digital artworks exhibited at Wembley Park, curated by moving image artist Zaiba Jabbar. Zaiba has curated a selection of works in various formats, rotating the work of three digital artists. The first is the series 'Jelly Experiments' by digital artist Lucy Hardcastle. 'Jelly Experiments' is a series of experimental digital films inspired by the idea of suspended realities and physical illusions.
At this outdoor photography exhibition in Market Square, eight double-sided lightboxes showcase the work of four artists exploring contemporary female identity and culture:
Photographer Tayo Dekunle explores the commodification, fetishization, and sexualization of Black women's bodies.
Creative Chi Chi Maté Langlah's celebrates Black hair, sisterhood, powerful symbolism, and unity.
Spanish photographer Fares Micue explores issues of belonging, unity, balance, and conscious choice.
Wembley-based photographer Yasmin Jama explores the juxtapositions and layers of Western and cultural identity.
For the telephone booths in Arena Square, London artist Fiona Grady created a site-specific vinyl installation, "Sun-Kissed 2023," in which she uses rhythmic patterns of shifting shapes and colors to transform the environment with interlocking triangles in balance with each other. Her glowing shapes are composed of warm shades of lemon yellow, tropical orange, rosy red, and hot pink.
Josh McNorton, Cultural Director, Wembley Park comments: "We are thrilled to be able to bring together so many thought-provoking and inspiring artworks to celebrate International Women's Day with this bold new collection."
Jo McLaughlin, Senior Curator, Acrylicize comments: "It has been an honour to work alongside and curate the work of so many groundbreaking female artists for Wembley Park's Spring Art Trail. Seeing how each of them addressed the theme of balance in their practice has allowed us to build a public art trail filled with moments of curiosity, excitement and intrigue along the entire length of the Spring Trail."
About Wembley Park
Wembley Park is London's most exciting new district. Already home to venues such as OVO Arena Wembley, Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, and Wembley Stadium, Wembley Park is building on its international reputation for music and sporting events to become a groundbreaking destination with culture, entertainment, and community at its heart.
As a district, Wembley Park will include over 4,700 new homes, shops and workplaces, as well as attractive public spaces with parks and gardens, public squares and wide boulevards for residents and visitors alike. Once completed, almost half of the 85-acre site will be open space and private gardens, and Wembley Park will be home to the UK's largest Build to Rent development, with over 6,000 homes, managed by Quintain Living.
The three-hectare southern section of the seven-hectare Union Park is the latest milestone in the transformation of Wembley Park, featuring brand new amenities such as a children’s paddling pool, playground, pond, new trees and extensive lawns, as well as outdoor exercise equipment.
Wembley Park's cultural strategy includes a year-round programme of free public events. Recent highlights include International Busking Day, an annual music festival supporting street performances; Winterfest, a popular festival of lights in Wembley Park; and Wemba's Dream, a performance festival co-produced with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, which will soon relocate to the precinct. An extensive public art programme is enlivening Wembley Park's open spaces, with recent commissions from JR, Jason Bruges, Mr Doodle, Pref, Miriamandtom, Vivien Zhang, and Maser. A new, purpose-built community centre, The Yellow, provides a weekly programme of free community activities, ranging from youth theatre to Indian classical dance.
