Boat Art by Tower Bridge on the River Thames

Over the past few weeks the foreshore of the River Thames has been playing host to some of the most celebrated street artists around.

The likes of Alice Pasquini, Miss Van, Ciro Schu and Mateus Bailon have been painting the hull of a barge close to Tower Bridge on the south bank of the Thames. Brought together by Propa Stuff they’ve only been able to paint for a few hours each day because of the tide but the end result really has been worth it.

Moored at Downings Roads the barges are joined together and form a sustainable community growing their own food and living an alternative lifestyle. On the bank of the Thames with the backdrop of Tower Bridge it’s possible to think of worse places to live and paint. Certinaly the end result really adds to the environment and is really starting to generate a lot of interest.

I visited the barge on a particularly wet day and managed to get some snaps during a break in the clouds. The tide was high and there are only a few spots along the banking you are able to get pictures from, St Saviours Dock and Bermondsey Wall West, opposite Providence Square.

The barge as seen from the foreshore at Bemondsey Wall West
The barge as seen from the foreshore at Bemondsey Wall West
Italian artist Alice Pasquini made a brief visit to the UK and painted this whimsical girl
Italian artist Alice Pasquini made a brief visit to the UK and painted this whimsical girl
Brazil's Mateus Bailon chose to decorate his section of the barge with fish.
Brazil’s Mateus Bailon chose to decorate his section of the barge with fish.
France's Miss Van adds her iconic style to the hull
France’s Miss Van adds her iconic style to the hull

Update – Since the first set of photographs which were taken during a lull in a particularly big rain storm I went back the next day, Sunday 29th July 2013. The weather was a lot kinder and I was able to capture a lot more detail from the boat and the area around it.

The barge with the towers of Canary Wharf in the background
The barge with the towers of Canary Wharf in the background
The tide was going out and the bank of the Thames revealed itself
The tide was going out and the bank of the Thames revealed itself
Mateus Bailon's Birds peek their heads around the mast
Mateus Bailon’s Bird and Fish peek their heads around the mast

Close up of two more of the birds, one with a pirate eye patch
Close up of two more of the birds, one with a pirate eye patch
Close up of one of the birds and a fish
Close up of one of the birds and a fish

Miss Van and Ciro Schu from St Saviour Dock
Miss Van and Ciro Schu from St Saviour Dock
Miss Van and Ciro Schu from the banking opposite the barge
Miss Van and Ciro Schu from the banking opposite the barge
Alice Pasquini's whimsical girl fits in with any background
Alice Pasquini’s whimsical girl fits in with any background
Alice's Girl from St. Saviour's Dock
Alice’s Girl from St. Saviour’s Dock

For more information about Propa Stuff and the project try:

Propa Stuff Blog – Artists lay down their colours at Tower Bridge
Hooked Blog – Miss Van, Ciro Schu, Alice Pasquini, Sheryo and The Yok and Bailon paint a boat at Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge Moorings Home Page

For more Inspiring City posts about the artists involved tyr:

Interview with Mateus Bailon
Alice Pasquini Art in London

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