Arrivals + Departures

Arrivals + Departures by artists YARA + DAVINA explores birth, death and the journey in between. The outdoor artwork offers a collective memorial and celebration of life, and is presented by Battersea Arts Centre, produced by Artsadmin and supported by Wandsworth Council. 

Taking the recognisable form of a station or airport arrivals and departures board, the artwork invites local residents, primary schools and businesses to engage more deeply with the themes of life and death, to welcome and to remember. Visitors can share the names of people who have arrived and departed as a way to celebrate a birth or commemorate a death. Capturing the joy and sadness of any arrival or departure lounge, these nostalgic analogue display boards reflect the magnitude of sharing a name. Specifically for those that may often be excluded, the act of naming can be a radical act as each person is given a presence on the mechanical flip dot screens. By recording birth and death, the work marks the ebb and flow of life offering moments to welcome new life, honour the living and bring attention to death, acknowledging collective and personal grief and loss. 

Located in Embassy Gardens from 5 – 16 July, the large display boards of Arrivals + Departures will be accessible to local residents, workers and passers-by,

Submit a name and an optional story with an on-site steward, via smartphone or online at: www.arrivalsanddepartures.net 

“In a world where visiting others is severely limited this a beautiful gesture to celebrate and commemorate others while remaining socially distant”

The Londonist

#ArrivalsAndDepartures @ArrivalsAndDeps