Head above Water, London

London United Kingdom Head above Water Time to change Induline GW-310

For the eighth edition of designjunction, part of the London Design Festival, Steuard Padwick constructed a nine-meter-tall head made from renewable, sustainable, cross-laminated timber panels. It was displayed on the riverside walkway, directly on the River Thames in London. The head is age- and gender-neutral and is a symbol of hope, bravery and compassion. It also represents positivity for those confronting mental health issues, and the people who support them. The head was adorned with some 48 metres of LED lighting, whose colour could be changed in real time with the aid of a Twitter hashtag. Depending on how people engaged with the project, the head would light up in a specific colour. A total of 14 moods could be represented in colour. For instance, the hashtag “love” lit up the head in blue, red and pink, while “angry” was reflected in dark blue and purple. The statue was designed in collaboration with the “Time to Change” campaign, which aims to eradicate mental health-related stigma.

Reference identification data

Construction project:: Wood protection Wood protection- preventive / controlling
Building type:: Furniture / art objects
Other public buildings
Short description: This wooden sculpture of a human head floated above the Thames, where it was exposed to the ravages of the weather. Since it was only on display for the two-week run of the design festival, long-term wood preservation was not necessary. Moisture protection was applied, and the decision was taken to dispense with a finishing coat. In addition to the protective properties, sustainability was also vitally important.
Area:: 9 m Höhe
Site address:: London
Data sheet:: Report_37_Head above Water_121297.pdf
Date / completion:: 2018
Can the work be viewed?: No