The permanent Brightness of JuJu sculpture in Thamesmead Library is the result of a cumulative, gradual construction over many months. It is the
outcome of three consecutive workshops with 120 children from Harris Garrard and Willowbank Primary schools over 3 years, led by Dunya Kalantery and Rima Patel; and the inspiration that occured when the children’s work was returned to Rima & McRae’s workshop.
Brightness of JuJu (2022)
358 x 216 x 183 cm
Thamesmead Library
The Nest,
Cygnet Square, London SE2 9UH
Setting out on a journey in which children have lost all knowledge of their ancestors, the Children of Juju took a walk in a world where objects hold colour and tell stories. They found and gathered treasure; wind screen wipers, bottle tops, bricks, flip flops, grass.
Pigments were made from the treasure; grinding, grating, cutting and soaking. These are the colours referenced in the sculpture.
The children sculpted with clay; building, scoring, pouring and scribing. Each individual element of the sculpture is a faithful cast of one child’s labour, one story, one treasure and one hand’s work.
