Stories Behind The Art: A Look to the Future

The Brandon Estate in Kennington Park was in desperate need of some care and attention after it had spent years at the mercy of spray paint and graffiti. Local residents felt that the 60m stretch of wall surrounding Kennington Park represented the bygone days of gang culture and violence, a time the community were keen to leave behind. 

Brewers Decorator Centres in association with local group Bee Urban undertook an ambitious community scheme alongside the Brandon Tenants Residents Association to restore the community’s spirit and unity by painting a massive mural along a 60m wall, making it one of London’s longest murals.

Brewers Peckham store manager Jimmy Thomson was delighted to help by donating over 150 litres of Albany Paint to the community project. The Peckham store were blown away by the enthusiasm of Bee Urban’s Barnaby Shaw as his team strove to overcome the negative image created about the estate, seeking instead to highlight a very different message.

The 14th and final half hexagon on the wall is the final contribution from the students of St John the Divine. 

It is a look to the future of Kennington Park, as envisaged by the local students. It is their belief that not long from now, the future will become multi-dimensional through the use of Virtual Reality, allowing everyone to see mural in all of its glory no matter their location. 

Although it is a scary concept that we may, one day, be able to explore parks without ever having to leave our homes the children of St John the divine are excited for all to behold the incredible beauty and serenity within Kennington Park and the surrounding mural no matter their location. Expanding the already diverse community of Kennington globally with open arms to spread positivity and love radiated by the current residents.