From The Ground Up was funded by Corporation of London’s Enjoying Green Spaces and the Natural Environment Grant. The Project connects elders from Hamara Ghar, a high rise supported housing scheme in Green Street, with West Ham Park to inspire material for a digital art installation in the park, accessed via QR codes on selected benches.
We were poised to start the project in March 2020 when the first lockdown was announced and everything had to be put on hold. Fortunately we were able to re-ignite the project (2 years on !) Pete the West Ham Parks Head gardener led informative Autumn and Spring walks and Mary Edmondson, Fothergill expert, delivered an early summer session in the rose garden.
During the project the participants learned how to use creative apps on iPads and their smart phones and taking inspiration from seasonal visits to West Ham Park, produced the digital art, stop frame animations and photography featured in the exhibition. The playful work explores the power of nature to connect us to memories and the importance of our urban green spaces for our communal wellbeing.
Look out for From The Ground Up QR exhibition trail maps and the QR codes, located on five benches within West Ham Park’s iconic ornamental gardens. Charge your phones and check out the exhibition for yourselves!
QR Trail Exhibition Launch