A new piece of public art created by recent Illustration BA Honours graduate Danling Su has been unveiled in Harrow following a competition launched by Sovereign Network Group (SNG), which invited Westminster art students to reimagine a disused concrete shed on the grounds of SNG’s Northwick Parkside accommodation and transform it into a piece that reflects the local area.
Launched in January, the competition provided students the opportunity to create a community art piece that would bring joy to visitors and patients at the hospital.
After narrowing the shortlist down to three students, Danling’s design was chosen by the public via a social media vote on SNG’s channels. Her design is situated on the edge of the new Northwick Parkside development – a joint venture by the SNG and Countryside Partnerships – opposite Northwick Park Hospital.
The design, inspired by nature, growth and the borough of Brent, celebrates the Northwick Parkside community by illustrating the connection between healthcare, education and home life. The mural uses flowers and organic forms to represent different parts of the community growing together. During her site research, Danling noticed that the shape of the local area on the map resembled an apple, which inspired her to develop the apple as a key visual element symbolising the link between healthcare and education. The guardian figure represents care and protection for the community.
Mural artist Miguel Fons had the opportunity to bring the disused concrete shed to life through Danling’s design, spending nearly two weeks working on the transformation.
Danling said: “Seeing my mural design come to life has been an incredibly rewarding experience. It is amazing to know that something which started as an idea in my sketchbook has become part of a real community space. Throughout the project, I wanted to create a design that reflects care, connection, and a sense of belonging. I hope the mural brings a small moment of comfort and positivity to everyone who passes through Northwick Park and reminds people that they are not alone.”
Miguel Fons added: “As the person responsible for translating Danling’s design onto the actual walls, I found this to be a fascinating and comprehensive project. It encompassed everything from cleaning and preparing the surfaces, scaling up and transferring the drawing and painting, to the final touch-ups.
“The positive response and interest from residents and visitors grew as the project progressed.
“It was a pleasure to take part in this initiative, which brings a breath of fresh air to the area while establishing a dialogue between the artistic concept and the surrounding environment.”
The artwork directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Learn more about Art, Design and Visual Culture courses at the University of Westminster.
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