#StreetAthlete community art piece lands on the East London Canvas
17 August 2016
Just in time for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio, a new artwork piece entitled #StreetAthlete has landed on the East London Canvas.
The canvas is a creative space commissioned by Lendlease and LCR where the Foundation for FutureLondon showcases the local, national and internationally renowned creative talent of east London. The new artwork created by Stratford-based Brazilian artists ZU-UK encourages visitors to the Park to celebrate the everyday extra-ordinary feats achieved by thousands of ordinary people.
Elected as the perfect artistic group to bring Rio to London, ZU-UK who previously delivered the Rio Fone Hac art installation on the Park, have created #StreetAthlete as a gesture of gratitude, awe and celebration of the Street Athletes (Atletas de Rua) in Rio and in every other city around the world.
Mega events, such as the 2016 Games, are successful at bringing to the world’s attention the incredible athletes and their record breaking feats. This summer in Rio, there will also be thousands of ordinary individuals who humbly execute extra-ordinary physical effort on a daily basis to keep the city running. And #StreetAthlete allows us to say thank you to those who remain unknown.
Throughout the Games in Rio, ZU-UK and its collaborators and partners across Brazil will engage in a symbolic project to seek out individual street athletes and highlight their story in English and Portuguese on social media. Community members are encouraged to join in the celebration of everyday remarkable individuals by following the @IamZUUK Twitter handle, and posting an image and story of a #streetathlete.
About the East London Canvas
Lendlease and LCR, have commissioned the East London Canvas as part of their overall commitment to supporting the growth of art, culture, education and employment in east London. Together the team work with community groups, schools, artists and local organisations to provide them with a fantastic space to showcase their work, build careers and create opportunities.
Foundation for FutureLondon has been established to realise the potential of a Cultural and Education District on Queen Elizabeth Park. The foundation aims to create a new powerhouse for innovation and creativity through unique partnerships with world-leading institutions, including Sadler’s Wells, UAL’s London College of Fashion, UCL, V&A Museum and the Smithsonian Institution. FutureLondon is supporting the organisations moving to the new district to forge an ambitious partnership with the will and acumen to inspire, and be inspired by, east London’s diverse communities.
About ZU-UK
Formerly known as Zecora Ura and Para Active, ZU-UK is an established award winning independent theatre and digital arts company based in East London and Rio de Janeiro since 2001. Driven by an artistic partnership between Jorge Lopes Ramos and Persis Jade Maravala, ZU-UK aim to make transformational and unforgettable immersive art for the curious. As a British company that has successfully maintained a satellite base in Brazil for over a decade, ZU-UK has a strong track record of collaborating across cultures and artistic disciplines, delivering ambitious innovation with depth and integrity. Making great art and supporting emerging artists are ZU-UK’s ways to contribute to a thriving, sustainable future for the arts.