Es Devlin's Congregation to open on the Strand this autumn, as part of Lost & Found: Stories of sanctuary and belonging
Congregation, a large-scale art and choral installation, created by acclaimed artist Es Devlin, curated by writer and journalist Ekow Eshun and featuring portraits of 50 Londoners will open on the pedestrianised streets of the Strand, from 3-9 October.
Developed in partnership with UK for UNCHR (The UN Refugee Agency) and in collaboration with King's College London and The Courtauld, Congregation shares the experiences of people who had to leave the country they once called home and open a dialogue about the experiences of refugees from across the world.
Congregation will be presented as part of Lost & Found: Stories of sanctuary and belonging, a public programme of arts and ideas, presented by King's Culture and featuring voices from across King's and beyond.
Speaking about the inspiration behind Congregation, Es Devlin shared; "I was moved in 2022 by the generosity of spirit with which we, as a country and as individuals, offered support to those displaced by the war in Ukraine. I wanted to understand why we have not yet been drawn to show an equivalent abundance of support to those displaced in comparable circumstances from other countries including Syria, Sudan, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Eritrea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and many more. I went to UK for UNHCR to learn more about the numbers and contexts of the 117 million people currently displaced globally, and the experiences of refugees now living in the UK."
About Congregation
50 large-scale chalk and charcoal portraits of Londoners who have experienced forced displacement from their homelands are at the very heart of this new installation. Each image depicts the portrait sitter holding a box, containing a projected animated sequence they've co-conceived in conversation with Es Devlin.
These portraits and sequences will be presented as a monumental projection within the eighteenth-century church of St Mary le Strand, from 3-9 October. The images will represent a vibrant London 'congregation' whose roots extend across the globe to Syria, Sudan, South Sudan, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Palestine, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, Somalia, Tanzania, Chile, Venezuela, Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo and Germany.
To accompany the installation, there will be daily performances of choral music at 7pm outside the church*, with appearances from King's College London choir, the London African choir and the London Bulgarian choir.
Lost & Found: Stories of sanctuary and belonging
Congregation will be presented as part of Lost & Found: Stories of sanctuary and belonging, a free arts and ideas programme from King's Culture. Lost & Found foregrounds stories of sanctuary - exploring themes of refuge, resilience, and the search for safety in a world facing significant social, political, and environmental challenges.
The programme has been inspired and informed by King's life-changing research and co-created with artists and communities from across London and beyond. It reflects King's College London's status as a University of Sanctuary, as well as an ongoing commitment to improving the lives of those affected by injustices and addressing the forces that prevent peace and security.
"As part of King's commitment to serving society, it is inspiring to see this visionary work by Es Devlin connecting so closely with our pioneering Sanctuary Programme, which promotes social justice and supports refugee students, as well as the work that The Policy Institute is leading around international attitudes to human migration. Societal impact sits at the heart of King's research practice as does community engagement across London and internationally. The Lost & Found arts and ideas programme, curated by King's Culture, will provide impact, engagement and visibility for these vital areas of enquiry."
Professor 'Funmi Olonisakin, Vice President (International, Engagement & Service) King's College London
Visiting Congregation
Congregation will be free and open to the public daily from 11:00 till 21:00 with public choral performances within the surrounding pedestrianised area of the Strand outside The Courtauld at 19:00 each evening from Friday 4 October until Wednesday 9 October.
It is free to visit the installation within St Mary le Strand Church but registration is essential.
* The evening choral performances on the Strand are free to attend and no registration is required. These will take place at 19:00 on 3, 4,5, 6, 8 and 9 October. There is no choral performance on Monday 7 October.
