A new artwork named Drawn Together has been unveiled on Wembley Park's Spanish Steps as part of its 2020 festive display, United in Light.
In a year of people being asked to stay apart, the design features hundreds of self-illustrated faces placed side-by-side and shaded to form a rainbow, reflecting the public working together to tackle the pandemic.
Wembley Park and east London designer Tash Randolph invited people across the UK to feature in this inclusive artwork by drawing their self-portraits on Instagram stories, combining the digital world with the physical.
From a distance, the illuminated artwork gives the illusion of a rainbow, while up close it showcases 612 individuals who submitted a self-portrait.
Tash said: "After such a negative year I wanted this artwork to be a beacon of positivity for anyone that passes by it.
"So many people haven’t been able to see their friends and families, and this was a small way to celebrate the coming together of people and communities to create something uplifting.
"This piece was hugely inspired by all of the amazing rainbow drawings that popped up in people’s windows this year, and I hope that Drawn Together is a cheering reminder that we’re all in this together."
Josh McNorton, Wembley Park’s cultural director, said: "‘We are proud to unveil the fifth public artwork for Wembley Park’s Spanish Steps, which link Wembley Stadium with The SSE Arena, Wembley and are a highlight of our popular outdoor art trail.
"It has been heartening to see so many people taking the time to participate in this moment of collective artistic expression, and exciting to see talented London designer Tash Randolph transform their drawings into an inclusive and emotive artwork.
"The rainbow is designed to send our community and its visitors a message of hope this festive period as they stand side-by-side to face the challenging times of the pandemic.
"We look forward to seeing members of the public discovering their own Instagram creations rendered on our iconic Spanish Steps.”
The Spanish Steps commissions are a feature of Wembley Park’s cultural programme, much of which has been reimagined since the onset of Covid-19 to make the most of its open spaces, support artists in this difficult time and demonstrate how beneficial cultural programming is to public wellbeing.
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