Photo credit: Basil Watson
The Sculpture pays tribute to the vision of the Windrush pioneers
By Olayiwola Balogun – The Windrush Commemoration Committee has shortlisted the design of a permanent tribute to a generation of arrivals from the Caribbean to Britain, from the arrival of MV Empire Windrush in 1948 and in the decades that followed.
Internationally renowned artist Basil Watson has been chosen to design the National Windrush Monument, which will stand at London Waterloo station.
The monument, which is backed by £1 million of government funding, will pay tribute to the dreams, ambition, courage and resilience of the Windrush migrants who arrived in Britain after the Second World War.
The three figures – man, woman and child – dressed in their “Sunday best” are climbing a mountain of suitcases hand-in-hand, demonstrating the inseparable bond of the Windrush pioneers and their descendants and the aspirations of their generation.
The design will stand as a testament to those who stepped ashore to lay a foundation for their families and their future, influencing and contributing to every aspect of our society.
The announcement, which delivers on a manifesto commitment, comes as the nation celebrates Black History Month with events taking place up and down the country.
Communities Minister Kemi Badenoch MP said: “I want to congratulate Basil Watson on being selected to design the National Windrush Monument. The government is very pleased to be sponsoring this commemoration.
“His design will celebrate and honour the contribution of the Windrush generation, right at the centre of our nation’s capital.
“The Monument will become a permanent place of reflection and inspiration for all, reminding us of our shared history and heritage.”
Chair of the Windrush Commemoration Committee Baroness Floella Benjamin DBE said: “I am thrilled to be able to reveal the final design of our National Windrush Monument, which so vividly captures the experiences of the Windrush generation and their descendants across the country.
“It was empowering to see how Basil’s design deeply and emotionally effected so many – adults and children alike.
“This Windrush Monument represents the past, present and future and I hope it will be the catalyst for other monuments commemorating the extraordinary contribution of the Windrush generation to this country.”
Basil Watson said: “I ’m truly honoured to be chosen to design this monument from an outstanding field of applicants.
“I feel privileged that I now have this opportunity to express the aspirations, vision and courage of my parents, who took the long sea voyage to England in 1952 as part of that Windrush generation in search of a brighter future.
“I look forward to bringing my design to life, because I know how much this means to the Windrush community.”
His Excellency Seth George Ramocan CD, High Commissioner to the United Kingdom said: “It’s my delight to offer warmest congratulations to Basil Watson, for his dedication and vision in creating this superb design.
“It is an honour to be a serving High Commissioner and to see this monument moving into place as a symbol of the great efforts and contributions of those that made their journey to the UK and their descendants.
“This National Windrush Monument is a testament to the great contributions made by the Windrush generation – it echoes the energy and direction the community have in both paying tribute to those who made their first steps here and moving forward with all the energy and drive that they gave following generations.”
Following a public engagement phase over the summer, the winning design was selected by the Windrush Commemoration Committee (WCC), chaired by Baroness Floella Benjamin DBE.
Sculptor and painter Basil Watson has designed public sculptures and monuments across the world including statues of Martin Luther King, Usain Bolt and Merlene Ottey. This will be his first public artwork in the United Kingdom, where he lived for part of his childhood with his family, who are part of the Windrush generation.
Basil, who was awarded the Order of Distinction (Commander Class) in 2016 by the Jamaican government in recognition of his artistic accomplishment, will now begin work to convert his maquette into the 12-foot-high bronze monument that will be unveiled to the public on Windrush Day – Wednesday 22 June 2022.
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