"Visions for a New World"

Following the 10th and 11th editions of Sculpture in the City and the sudden death of my partner, Brody Mace-Hopkins, in mid-June 2022, I started to think about this theme – "Visions for a New World" – and new locations and institutions to present my sculptural installation, symbols.

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In particular, I was excited by the idea of presenting symbols (2019-2021) across the United States of America, which is the site of the Original Rainbow Pride flag co-designed by Gilbert Baker, Lynn Segerblom, and James McNamara in San Francisco in 1978 and numerous iterations of the Pride flag up until the present. The renders continued with various sites and locations in Europe, Asia, and Australia, from museums and public galleries to arcades and outdoor markets ("intermediary spaces") much like Leadenhall Market. 

 

In some instances, these renders became a powerful way to activate space and consider civic space and our commitment to world building. I liked how symbols could directly engage with these communities in any city in the world and interact with these buildings, structures, and cultural landmarks, designed by world-class architects and design firms, as well as considering ideas around sculpture, aesthetics, materiality, monumentality, and public space. 

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Lastly, the element of time is essential to symbols. We experience the flags in relation to the light, space, and existing architecture. This changes throughout the day and the seasons. The gesture of experiencing symbols for a full year (between 2021 and 2022 and then another year between 2022 and 2023) meant that viewers could enjoy the artwork throughout the year coinciding with important anniversaries in the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as the beauty and joy of being who you are everyday and knowing you are enough and worthy of love.

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Guillaume x

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November 2025