Acclaimed British-Nigerian artist and designer Yinka Ilori MBE unveils a major new public installation at Fulham Pier, marking a bold new chapter in the area’s cultural narrative.
Titled 100 Found Objects, Ilori’s evocative artwork celebrates the stories past and present that shape Fulham’s identity and communities. Drawing inspiration from objects found in and around Fulham as well Fulham’s local flora and fauna, 100 Found Objects represents a fountain of history and vessels for stories and hidden pasts that Ilori reframes through a contemporary lens.
Ilori said: “This project is about honouring stories. Those we inherit, those we create. Those we choose to share. Fulham is filled with quiet treasures and it’s been a joy to uncover them with the community. To bring them to life in a space that belongs to everyone.”
Fulham Pier is London’s most exciting new destination, bringing a vibrant mix of dining, entertainment and cultural activity to the backdrop of the iconic River Thames. The installation spans the full length of Fulham Pier with key elements located at the Hammersmith and Putney entrances, on the building’s façade, as well as along the glass balustrades framing the new boardwalk overlooking the Thames. The artwork includes lenticular panels that shift and move with the viewer’s perspective, with a 3D element bringing to life the objects within a floral landscape inspired by Fulham’s rich heritage of craftsmanship and cultivation.
In transforming the setting of Fulham Pier into a canvas for contemplation and discovery, Ilori adopted a revisionist approach, inspired by the tradition of mudlarking and scavenging the riverbanks for items previously assumed lost. Among these unearthed objects were intricately crafted pipes, broken jugs, and fragments - all representative of heritage, craftsmanship and community. This plethora of items forming part of 100 Found Objects, is to inspire visitors to delve deeper and consider both the cultural and historical significance they carry.
In addition, rich botanical references have been interwoven with the found objects - which Ilori has layered throughout the composition, drawing inspiration from Fulham’s floral culture. A key inspiration was the Walled Garden of Fulham Palace, which houses the pioneering horticultural work of Mary Somerset, Duchess of Beaufort (1630-1715). As an early female botanist, Somerset cultivated an extraordinary range of plants, including the ‘blue passionflower’ - symbolic and reflective of Fulham’s long-standing passion for horticulture. A Delftware plate with its floral application (dated 1686-1701), originally a symbol of wealth and status has been reimagined to embody today’s values of community exchange, mutual support, and human connection - replacing materialism with shared experience.
The plants featured in the artwork also acknowledge Fulham’s global connections and colonial trade, particularly with Africa and its diasporic heritage. Among them are:
- Grains of Paradise - a medicinal spice native to West Africa.
- Okra - historically used for healing.
- Cotton - a nod to Fulham’s historical role in global commerce during the colonial period, inviting reflection on the area’s layered past.
The botanical choices, infused with the meticulously drawn artwork expand Fulham’s local narrative into a broader, global history. Further informed by the work of contemporary scholars such as Akosua Pareis-Osei, who explores African women’s medicinal knowledge and reproductive autonomy.
The inclusion of a dove, as a universal symbol of freedom and peace, underscores Ilori’s message that community spaces must be created not only through design but through empathy, compassion, and shared understanding. The installation includes panels overlooking the River Thames, featuring floral artwork produced using lenticular printing to create an engaging, ever-shifting visual experience.
Ultimately, 100 Found Objects is both a homage and invitation: to look closer, appreciate what’s around us, and acknowledge the histories that shape us while connecting communities today and into the future.
This landmark commission is free to view, enriching Fulham Pier’s evolving public realm and redefining how the local community, Londoners and visitors experience one of the Capital’s newest riverside destinations.
Glen Sutton, Director of Fulham Pier said: “Yinka’s work speaks to the soul of Fulham—its layered history, its vibrant communities, and its constant evolution. This commission reflects what Fulham Pier is all about: bringing people together through experiences, culture and a meaningful shared space.”
Extending Ilori’s creativity into the fabric of Fulham Pier, 100 Found Objects, will come alive on The Scene, a 10m digital, interactive screen, that welcomes all into the heart of the destination. The artwork has been designed to move to the beat of the music and live entertainment programmed within space. 100 Found Objects is now unveiled for all members of the public to experience.
Fulham Pier will be hosting an Opening Weekend of Celebrations from 20th - 22nd June. A free weekend of activities, from interactive art sessions to live performance, including by Fulham-born Londoner, Example.
Additional information can be found at fulhampier.com | @fulham.pier
Liked this post? Follow this blog to get more.