Gallery No. 32’s Wild Art: A Symbiotic Relationship

“We're swapping white walls and closed doors for blue skies and open terrains, with the aim of expanding the reach of creativity.” - Meg Stuart and Kieran Idle

Mariusz Wolny, A ray from Saturn. Photo Courtesy: Stella Koslowski.

In a world where artwork is seen in designated interiors and on fair floors, it can sometimes feel sterile and disconnected from the rest of the world. Artwork is created from the depths of the human experience, something which is heavily influenced by a person’s environment. With the growing concerns about environmental awareness and natural conservation, it seems incongruent to have art displayed mainly in the classic white cube spaces. Meg Stuart and Kieran Idle recognized this disconnect, and have developed Gallery No. 32 with the aim to provide artists with outdoor venues in which their work can be exhibited. Not only does this supply a space where art can have a more symbiotic relationship with the natural world, but it also helps bring awareness to the benefits of rewilded or conserved areas.

Since part of No. 32’s goal is for visitors to “roam and get lost” within the exhibition, I feel that describing my own journey into the space would be the most authentic way to take stock of the experience.

It was a beautiful walk through the park to find the old Thamesmead Golf Course, which was tucked away within the neighborhoods of Abbey Wood.

Since the exhibition is situated in a rewilded park, it felt very fitting that my journey through the surrounding trails was a bit mysterious and full of discovery. It was my first visit to Abbey Wood, let alone walked through these neighborhoods. But the parks were very lovely and made for a great opening act to the exhibition.

Journey through Abbey Wood. Photo Courtesy: Stella Koslowski.

The exhibition itself is framed on one side by the Thames, and on the other side more neighborhoods and green space. At first glance it may seem like just an abandoned and unkempt plot of land, but once you actually enter the space it is quite clear that this area, though rewilded, has been cared for with true intention. It is refreshing to see such a large plot of land being returned to the wild and allowed to thrive with appreciation from the surrounding community.

Exhibition entrance. Photo Courtesy: Stella Koslowski.

The variety of material and scale of the artworks is impressive. The size of the park does not drown the sculptures, and contrarily the sculptures do not overpower the natural flora and fauna. It is truly a marriage of art and nature.

Some of my favorite pieces were those that were small, close to the ground, and almost became one with the grass. Crouching down to view these pieces was a fun way to interact with them and brought me closer to the surrounding plants.

I found myself wandering through the display and thinking about what was really the ‘art’ here. Obviously, all these sculptures, yes, but it began to feel as though the space was more all-encompassing. The plants and insects were becoming artworks as well.

Is this blossoming flower art as well? Photo Courtesy: Stella Koslowski.

Alexis Bamforth, What's on your plate? Photo Courtesy: Stella Koslowski.

Alegria Repila Smith, Caryatid (Fallen). Photo Courtesy: Stella Koslowski.

Claye Bowler, Over my dead body. Photo Courtesy: Stella Koslowski.

Leah Hickey, I see you. Photo Courtesy: Stella Koslowski.

Bees and butterflies were all over, which contributed to the sense of wonder in the space. You could hear and see them adding slight motion to the grass, flowers, and even to other people viewing the works if they flew too close.

Jeremy Wyatt, In search of everything I need. Photo Courtesy: Stella Koslowski.

Many of the works also encouraged the viewer to physically interact with them, such as the treehouse structure, In search of everything I need, by Jeremy Wyatt. It provided chalk for people to leave their mark on the outside walls, and had a small nook that people could climb into to view the park from a different perspective. Wyatt’s piece represents his goal to create “a manifestation of [his] childhood fantasy of escape; a floating safe haven above the ground. It is a meditation on the desire to seek refuge at any age, to retreat from the world we have created, and then to reflect, create and share in order to better enter it once again. Often creating spaces of exploration, [he] builds climate-conscious spaces of play both in his art practice and in his business making experimental playgrounds for children.”

His goal was indeed fulfilled, as I observed many children climbing into the treehouse, and even a few adults, obviously overcome with nostalgia.

This type of interaction would not have occurred without instruction in a classic white cube space, as it’s environment gives an air of formal observation and no room for play. But in the rewilded Thamesmead Golf Course, viewers felt more comfortable to examine the art up close, and learn more about its conception through tactile engagement.

The organizers found other ways to engage the public via artist talks and tours. Groups could come to scheduled walks through the park to selected works and have the opportunity to hear from the artists themselves. This is great not just to enrich the experience for the viewer, but it also acts as an educational lesson to anyone who wants to create work for the outdoors.

Some of the more monolithic pieces are also impressive for the way in which they bring a level of grandeur to what might be perceived as an unremarkable field. Mariusz Wolny’s A ray from Saturn immediately caught my eye upon entering the exhibition. It is by far the tallest work in the space, and is affected by the light from the sun and shadows from the trees. Wolny’s desire to “playfully [explore] apocalyptic fears tied to milestone years like 2025”, gives the impression of a ruin from the past that has been sitting here since the dawn of time, while simultaneously appearing as an object of science fiction and the future. It seems to point us towards the woods beyond the park and possibly to what is to come, adding some mystery. It gave me a strong desire to go and explore that area, an area beyond the confines of the park, which underlines the organizers’ goal of cultivating exploration and curiosity in its audience.

Detail: Mariusz Wolny, A ray from Saturn. Photo Courtesy: Stella Koslowski.

Stephanie Douet, Brutalist Crazy Golf. Photo Courtesy: Stella Koslowski.

LUAP, Seeds of Change. Photo Courtesy: Stella Koslowski.

LUAP’s Seeds of Change was fun for how it moved slightly with the wind. I also witnessed some children going up and hugging it, which made it move and squish. It is something that a photo doesn’t really capture. The work is also surrounded by seed bombs meant to release new seeds into the space and further expand the flora of the park, as if the artwork itself is giving back to the environment that is housing it.

There is an impressive push and pull between large sculptures and small sculptures, as designed by the curatorial team. It not only creates a very dynamic exhibition, but also encourages different levels of engagement with the wildness of the park.

Peter Fish, Untitled. Photo Courtesy: Stella Koslowski.

Another fun element of the show were Peter Fish’s moths hidden throughout the space, usually on parts of the remaining sport center building that is no longer in use. This was another nice aspect of the show that encouraged audience interaction and exploration of the entire grounds.

Peter Fish, Untitled. Photo Courtesy: Stella Koslowski.

Peter Fish, Untitled. Photo Courtesy: Stella Koslowski.

A rather magical-looking archway also led people to enter a balcony connected to the old sports center, which allowed visitors to view the park from up high. This served to set the space apart from the traditional gallery space, which would understandably have a limited number of viewpoints for the audience.

Balcony entrance. Photo Courtesy: Stella Koslowski.

I would strongly recommend this show to anyone who enjoys a sense of adventure and the outdoors. It was really meditative to be surrounded by two things I love: art and nature.

I found myself spending twice as much time there as I thought I would, which speaks to the beauty of the park and the exciting sculpture work. It is great to see such a variety of materials in these artworks, and a variety of sizes that are not being held back by an enclosed gallery. The open space really allows these artists to work at any scale they wish, and to experiment with the landscape in place of gallery walls.

Prayer Room, No one's watching, do something. Photo Courtesy: Stella Koslowski.

Some other favorites:

Elliot Macdonald, Pillar of the Community. Photo Courtesy: Stella Koslowski.

Diana Zrnic, The Promise of Continuity. Photo Courtesy: Stella Koslowski.

Rachel Irons, Transmission Interference. Photo Courtesy: Stella Koslowski.

Maria Camila Cepeda Gnecco, Zodiac for the contemporary human. Photo Courtesy: Stella Koslowski.

Detailed view: Maria Camila Cepeda Gnecco, Zodiac for the contemporary human. Photo Courtesy: Stella Koslowski.

“These works took root in tough terrain, and were made for people, by people, and brought joy to both.” - Winter Sculpture Park 2025

List of Artists:

Leah Hickey (@leahrhickey)

Tom Witherick (@tomwitherick)

Verity Monroe (@v_m_v_m_v_m)

Diana Zrnic (@dianazrnic)

Jeremy Wyatt (@rootandshoot)

Andy Ash (@1andyash)

Helen Grant (@helenkgrant)

LUAP (@luap)

Tom Hackett (@tomhackettsculptor)

Ellie Harrison (@earlywarningsigns)

Peter Fish (@_peter_fish)

The residents of Thamesmead and Communal Clay (@communal_clay)

Claye Bowler (@clayebowler)

Elliot Macdonald (@elliot.macdonald)

Poppy Whatmore (@poppywhatmore)

Mariusz Wolny (@wolnymariusz)

Alexis Bamforth (@alexis.bamforth_eec)

Chloë Louise Lawrence (@chloelouisse)

Stephanie Douet (@stephaniedouet)

Maja Novak (@majanovart)

Tom Coates (@coatseyy)

Charlie Franklin (@charlie__franklin)

Maria Camila Cepeda Gnecco (@mariacamila.cepeda)

Rachel Irons (@rachel.beert)

Sophie Fishel (@sophiefishel)

Lorrain Mailer (@lorrainmailer)

Alegria Repila Smith (@alegriarepilasmith)

Richard Mackness (@richardmackness)

Chanel Vegas (@chanelvegas.art)

Prayer Room (@prayer.room.gallery)

Liam Scully (@liamscullyofficialness)

Marcus Orlandi (@marcus.orlandi)

Jill Laudet (@laudet.art)

Eleanor Mclean (@eleanormcleanstudio)

Joesph Ijoyemi (@mrjosephyemiart)

Bibliography

“Gallery No. 32”, Accessed April 26, 2025, https://www.galleryno32.co.uk/.

Stella Koslowski

En Plein Air Co-Editor, MADE IN BED