Brixton is one of London’s most vibrant and diverse areas; a true cultural hub of the capital city. In celebration of the area’s rich cultural diversity, a series of murals have been displayed at Brixton station over the past few years – and the latest in the series has just been unveiled.
Proudly welcoming passengers into the tube station as of today (November 2) is Jem Perucchini’s ‘Rebirth of a Nation’. The Italian artist is best known for his reinterpretation of Renaissance paintings and the coded messages found within them. This new large-scale contribution to Brixton station is bursting with symbolism and allegory.
Initiated back in 2018, the programme invites artists to respond to the diverse narratives of the area and is well-looked after by Art on the Underground. Previous mural artists have included Joy Labinjo, Helen Johnson, Denzil Forrester, Aliza Nisenbaum and Njideka Akunyili Crosby.
‘Rebirth of a Nation’ is a gloriously bold, colourful painting, inspired by the Ivory Bangle Lady (the name given to the occupant of an ancient grave dated to around the 4th century). The piece challenges the notion that Black British history stretches no further back than the 20th Century, and celebrates the long lineage of Black Britons who came before.
Artist Jem Perucchini said: “For me, Brixton represents a microcosm of London, a place where the community creates a local focus. The Underground station then acts as the main pivot between the centre and the periphery, the inside and the outside of the city. Working on this project has been very stimulating, not only for the opportunity to see my work reproduced in such a large format, but also because of its location in the heart of Brixton, visible by all its inhabitants and those who pass through it.”
Perucchini’s mural will remain in place, brightening up Brixton station for the next year.
Read more about ‘Rebirth of a Nation’ and Art on the Underground here.