Based Upon
Artworks Design
Based Upon

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In the heart of old Kensington, on the former site of Kensington Barracks, a series of sculptures stand as a portal to an enchanting storybook world

 
 
 

Lancer Square, a gem in Kensington's upscale real estate landscape, invited Based Upon to create an art installation for its courtyard. This resulting collection of three sculptures, accessible to the public, pay homage to the local heritage and the enchanting narratives of Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan, both intimately intertwined with Kensington Gardens.

 

 

 
 

The first sculpture creates a central feature to the courtyard's architectural design. Spanning 2.5meters square, its curled yet angular forms create the illusion of turning pages in a magnificent book. In mirror-polished stainless steel, it reflects the courtyard's lush foliage, evoking a magical portal and symbolising the threshold we traverse when embarking on a fairy tale – the same threshold that beckoned Peter Pan to Neverland and guided Alice as she descended into Wonderland.

 
 

Two additional sculptures feature children perched atop columns above the square. These personify our innermost dreams of frolicking in fantastical realms. Elevated 4 meters above the earth, sculpted from Portland stone and adorned with gold leaf, they continue in the tradition of British statuary and monuments at first glance, but on closer inspection, they reveal their contemporary essence, forging a profound connection between viewer and child.