Tate to Thames 17 - 25 June 2021
Working with the artists, Ackroyd & Harvey in collaboration with the poet, novelist and activist Ben Okri, and the Writers Rebel Collective, to produce a large-scale performative work in two acts to address the climate and ecological emergency.
Over nine days, a 16 x 4m banner grew in the Turbine Hall with a text written by Okri stencilled into the seedling grass. Equivalent to a photogram, his words were revealed in bright yellow as the letters were removed.
On Friday June 25, a cellist played and eighteen performers congregated to roll and remove the grass banner from the Tate to the Thames.
The installation followed Tate’s declaration of a climate emergency in 2019.
Act 1 On the Shore Tate Modern, London – link to film
To the call of the trumpet, and led by a dancer, the performers processed to the embankment. Lowering the banner over the railings, a crew awaited to secure the grass to a cork floatation raft.
At 11am, to the sound of St Paul’s bells, the banner was lifted by the waves and floated on the river. Speeches and music followed.
Act 2 On the Shore Bankside Beach, London – link to film
Creative team – Ackroyd & Harvey and Ben Okri with Liz Jensen, Kelly Hill, Paul Ewen, Laura Toms, Gus Mitchell, Ben Anderson
Production – Kelly Hill
Performers – Angel Pollard, Ashley Goh, Cara Mahoney, Claire Parry, Ella Faye Donley, Gaby Soly, Hanna Kelly, Henry Hayward, Holli Dillon, Jan Pearson, Josh Mortor, Katherine Bristow, Lauren Eliza Philips, Linn Johansson, Melina Khalifi Rad, Olivia Gosling, Oliver Lyndon, Paul Barnes, Rhea Chandratreya, Toby Litt, Tom Jensen, Venice van Someren
Stage Management – Ally Southern, Anoushka Bonwick, Tyler Southern
Photography – Andy Sewell, Elaine Duigenan, Harry Hawkins, Kelly Hill, Dan Harvey and others
Acknowledgements – Misia Gobdeski, Harry Hawkins, BOST, Southwark XR, Helena Smith, XR Creative Circle, Alice English, Andrew Darnton and XR Rebels