Negative Space Made Positive

We felt the artwork should reflect the optimistic nature of new development – bringing life and opportunity to what had become a semi-derelict space.

This mirrored conversations we had with local residents about the gas holders as a framework to look at the sky: negative space made positive; which forms the basis of our concept.

On the left is a very simple initial scamp of how it could look (the words and shapes are just indicative at this stage).

Design

The artwork will be a three-layered panel:

• Base layer: a simple one-colour background matched to the blue of the paintwork on the original gas holders
• Middle layer: a pattern of shapes created by members of our Autistic Youth Hub with other shapes designed by Croydon residents overlaid as a digital pattern. The colours represent the sky from dawn to dusk.
• Top layer: a small number of words, chosen from in person and online submissions, formed into a simple found poem.

How you can help

Take a look at our Inspiration Gallery, then Create a Shape for us to add to the patterned middle layer and/or Share a Word to inspire our poem.