Sculptures add splash of colour to Olympic Park waterways

The long line of 35 brightly coloured pillars are made from the same durable material as navigational buoys. After the Games, the artworks will be used as mooring posts fastened to pontoons for boats along the waterway.

During the Games and in legacy, these striking pillars, which range from 3m to 5m tall, will be seen by visitors walking along the waterfront of the London 2012 Gardens in the south of the Park. Each viewpoint will offer a new combination of the five colours – blue, brown, green, orange, and red – that quietly echo the colours of the Olympic Rings.

The sculptures, named ‘Stele’, were created by Hackney-based artist Keith Wilson and are part of the Olympic Delivery Authority’s (ODA’s) Art in the Park programme.

Simon Wright, the ODA’s Director of Venues and Infrastructure, said: ‘The ODA’s Art in the Park programme has strived to commission original and meaningful works. Keith Wilson’s colourful piece will endure and is already part of the river. ‘It is part of our commitment to ensure that the Park is a great place to live, work and play for decades to come.’

Artist Keith Wilson said: ‘These sculptures stand ready to serve old functions in a new way. They connect the parkland with the river, the canal and by extension the wider world. They provide a sense of place and occasion, anchoring memories of many a good day out. These colourful totems will help create a distinctive identity for this newest and boldest of London parks.’

Read more about the Art in the Park programme

Read the media release