A mural aimed at “banishing the January blues” has been launched in east London.
The artwork, measuring 130 feet (40 meters), is part of Colours of Redbridge, a community-driven arts initiative located in the Winston Way underpass adjacent to Redbridge Central Library.
It narrates a journey through the local history, highlighting everything from ancient artifacts to contemporary innovations, while also offering “a peek into the future.”
The vivid designs are the result of collaboration among local artists and community participants.
According to Colours of Redbridge, the mural represents “a tribute to our borough, celebrating what we cherish and the narratives that have defined us.”
Spanning two parallel walls, the mural presents Redbridge’s “diverse historical timeline” that captures everything from the prehistoric existence of woolly mammoths over 200,000 years ago to whimsical visions of alien relatives in the future.
The concepts for this project were shaped in partnership with primary schools, care facilities, and community organizations, encouraging exploration of the borough’s history, contemporary scene, and future potential.
The same schools and community groups were involved in the painting and finalization of the mural.
Artist Erin Aniker expressed how “enjoyable and enlightening” it was to delve deeper into the community she grew up in.
She remarked, “I cherished listening to the stories of older residents recounting their nights of dancing at the iconic Ilford Palais Club with the legendary Dusty Springfield, along with facilitating art workshops for local primary school students. Their drawings and ideas about the future of our area were truly imaginative, featuring flying footballers, alien relatives, and psychedelic, wavy structures!
“It has been a wonderful community initiative, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”
