Wembley Park has announced the launch of two exciting new public artworks as part of its popular art trail.
The artworks, unveiled in the first week of July, include an outdoor photography exhibition titled “Football Should Be Unforgettable,” curated by Alzheimer’s Society and produced by Wembley Park.
The collection pays tribute to the profound connection between Wembley Park and English football. It showcases three illuminated portraits of renowned British football stars Jack Grealish, Harry Maguire, and Luke Shaw, aiming to raise funds and awareness for Alzheimer’s Society’s important work. Each player reflects on their earliest memories of falling in love with the game, sharing childhood photographs that are prominently displayed in the exhibition.
Photo credit: Chris Winter / Wembley Park
In addition to the football-themed exhibition, internationally acclaimed artist Claire Luxton debuts her site-specific artwork titled “Messenger” within Wembley Park’s public realm. Luxton, known for her exploration of self-representation through various mediums, has created a captivating and immersive installation inspired by ancient Greek mythology. The artwork features clusters of wings, symbolizing intelligence, understanding, and limitless possibilities.
Luxton’s artwork spans different media and formats, including a striking triptych display on Wembley Park’s Spanish Steps, original red telephone boxes in Arena Square, and large digital screens along Olympic Way and White Horse Square. The installation on the Spanish Steps offers an engaging and interactive experience, allowing viewers to walk up and down the artwork while admiring its illusory qualities against the backdrop of the National Stadium.
Artist, Claire Luxton, said, “Messenger is made up of clusters of wings morphing and evolving together in an optical illusion of colour and depth. Wings have often been seen as the expression of aspiration towards a higher-than-human condition, a bridge of imagination, thought, freedom and victory. In ancient Greece, Hermes had winged heels, a symbol of the traveller and the messenger, this was said to represent the carrier of dreams, of impulse, of movement.
“The Greeks also represented love and victory with wings. According to Plato, wings represent intelligence and understanding. This piece aims to act as a gateway of possibility, a pathway that can hold the dreams and aspirations of those before and what is to come.”
The new artworks join the existing Wembley Park Art Trail, which boasts over 20 pieces of outdoor public art from local, national, and international artists, including Mr. Doodle, Lois O’Hara, and Jason Bruges Studio.
The exhibition curated by Alzheimer’s Society aims to remind visitors of the beauty and fragility of memories, particularly for those living with dementia. With 900,000 people in the UK living with dementia, the partnership between Alzheimer’s Society, Wembley Park, and The FA seeks to emphasise the importance of supporting individuals through challenging times.
The powerful images and thought-provoking installations hope to inspire visitors to donate and contribute to Alzheimer’s Society’s vital work in providing care and support for those affected by dementia.
Wembley Park invites the public to explore and contemplate these new artworks throughout the summer months, enhancing the neighbourhood’s reputation as a culture-packed destination.
For more information, visit wembleypark.com/art or follow Wembley Park on Facebook and Instagram.
