In celebration of the return of Doctor Who and to mark the brand’s whopping 60th anniversary, an interactive Doctor Who sculpture has been installed on the South Bank along with the iconic blue police box, The Tardis.
Against the backdrop of the Thames and the OXO tower stands the ‘Art of Regeneration’, a 180-degree interactive sculpture made from hundreds of discarded devices of e-waste and hidden Doctor Who easter eggs for all you eagle-eyed fans to spot. The sculpture showcases the current Doctor, David Tennant, seamlessly regenerating into the Fifteenth Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa and pays homage to the iconic regeneration process of the Time Lord.
Live now until Monday December 11, the sculpture was handcrafted by Global Street Art in collaboration with BBC Studios and Back Market, a global online marketplace for refurbished tech. Using recycled tech material is a nod to the physical embodiment of Tennant’s iconic character leaving the show and transforming into Gatwa’s Doctor and shines a light on tech waste, representing the estimated 100 tonnes of e-waste thrown into landfills every minute.
Fans will be able to spot special devices recycled from the space-time continuum, including the TARDIS, sonic screwdrivers, plus a few additional easter eggs that you’ll just have to go and discover yourself.
The Tardis only makes an appearance today from 10am to 2pm so sadly will no longer be there for the rest of the weekend but there’s still plenty of time travelling fun to be had during the weekend the sculpture is up. Tomorrow, Saturday December 9, fans will be invited to get dressed up to attend a cosplay event to the pop-up for a photo call at 12pm. So dust off that bow-tie and pull out your tweed blazer to join your fellow Whovians at the South Bank this weekend – cosplayers assemble!
On Sunday December 10, Whovians will be able to see the Fourteenth Doctor’s screwdriver and get an exclusive first look at Ncuti’s brand-new Sonic Screwdriver as part of the exhibit from 11am to 2pm. After the sculpture’s activation, it will return to the BBC Studios’ Television Centre headquarters, where it will stay until it’s dismantled, with the tech used to create the installation will be recycled.
Katy Medlock, UK General Manager for Back Market said: “Regeneration is as integral to Doctor Who’s storyline as it is to us at Back Market, except we’re using regeneration to give devices a new lease of life and save the world one piece of technology at a time. We’re excited to partner with BBC Studios to uphold our sustainable mission and demonstrate that regeneration doesn’t need to be confined to the imagination. With e-waste becoming the fastest-growing waste stream across the world, education on its impact is key. Repairing, recycling, and keeping our devices for longer must become the norm.”
Sarah Bold, Head of Marketing, Scripted at BBC Studios said: “The “Art of Regeneration” sculpture is an incredible tribute to a genuine moment of event TV. The regeneration has captivated audiences around the world time and time again and the handover from David to Ncuti will be truly iconic. This fitting partnership brings to life the art of regeneration in a showstopping way!”
Find the installation at the Queen’s Stone next to the OXO tower on the South Bank until Monday December 11.