Richmond upon Thames College (RuTC) recently partnered with local campaign group Save Our Lands and River (SOLAR) and the well renowned riverside pub, The Anglers, in Teddington, to run a competition within the art department to create a piece of permanent art that calls for an end to Thames Water’s Direct River Abstraction (TDRA) proposals.
The winning piece, called ‘Withering Time’ which was unveiled on 27th March, is situated in a prominent position in the grounds of Anglers pub, close to the Teddington Lock bridge. The student’s powerful sculpture for change, serves as a visual statement that sets out young people’s opposition to the TDRA scheme. This partnership between the college, SOLAR and The Anglers highlights the importance of community-driven action in preserving local environments. It was unveiled by Twickenham MP, Munira Wilson, in front of local stakeholders, friends and family of the students. Speakers at the event included Richard James and Emma Tolhurst from SOLAR, Principal of RuTC, Gavin Hughes and RuTC Head of Creative School, Jo Terrell.
Emma Tolhurst, SOLAR Campaigner and competition coordinator says:
“Save our Lands and River (SOLAR) are proud to celebrate our dynamic partnership between SOLAR, The Anglers and Richmond upon Thames College. We have been so impressed by the passion, energy and creativity from the winning team as well as the rest of the competition entries. We would encourage everyone to join with these amazing young people in finding out more about Thames Water’s environmentally destructive proposals and visit our website to see how to get involved”
General Manager of The Anglers, Ben Walton adds:
“As a local pub that serves the local community we have been delighted to be involved in this project. Given our location, so close to the river, we have a determination to see a healthy River Thames and their determination, ensuring we challenge anything, such as TDRA, that will cause long term environmental damage for local people, wildlife and water safety”.
The winning sculpture was designed by RuTC Level 3 Creative Practice student, Kayla Sylvan-Mcdonald, with the final outcome being a collaborative piece of work along with her classmates, Simran Thandi and Farhat Barmak. Their work, as well as that of their fellow students, show the deep concern about the negative environmental and social implications of the plans Thames Water has for the river at Teddington.
The students are committed to making a meaningful difference in the world, and they believe that creativity and expertise in design has the power to influence lives, shape communities, and inspire positive change. They strive to craft designs that resonate aesthetically while also addressing real-world challenges to promote a brighter future for all. As they pursue their dreams of becoming professional creative practitioners, they have focused on developing their 3D design skills with this commission. All three students are considering a career in interior design and architecture, so have been developing an appreciation of making work is not only visually appealing but also functional.
Kayla’s design, which took around 12 days to construct, explores the themes of time and invasion through the perspective of nature, focusing particularly on the elements of water and flowers. Her goal was to evoke a sense of the past, as this sculpture represents a moment frozen in time, inviting the audience to engage in reflection. It highlights nature’s determination to reclaim its space, visually depicted by waves enveloping a barrel, which serves as a symbol of the proposed sewage pipe. The incorporation of complementary colours, such as gold, represents the importance of cherishing nature. The design aims to draw attention to the environmental implications of TDRA scheme, prompting viewers to consider its potential impact. By capturing a moment suspended in time, the students aim to inspire contemplation about the future changes facing our local eco-system.
Jo Terrell, Head of Creative School at RuTC comments:
“At Richmond College we are proud of our students and the creative energy they bring. We were delighted to work with SOLAR and to see the range of ideas that the students created to address the critical issue of water quality. The winning entry will now be there for many years to come, showing everyone who passes the passionate voice of young people.”