In London’s Royal Docks, a colossal burst of colour now stretches across the urban landscape. Blue Sunset, the latest permanent public artwork by Graphic Rewilding, was unveiled in June 2025 and stands as a vibrant tribute to community, migration and transformation in East London.
Large in scale and rich in detail, the mural weaves together flowers suggested by local residents with references to the docklands’ industrial, architectural and botanical history. The result is not simply decorative. It is layered with meaning, rooted in both shared heritage and personal memory.
Developed through close engagement with the local community, the artwork brings together blooms that hold symbolic weight. Tulips represent renewal. Sunflowers signify strength. Other plants echo Victorian floriography and the global plant species that once arrived in the docks when the area functioned as a major trading hub. Each flower was chosen not only for its symbolism but for its resonance with those who live there.
The mural sits beside Richard Rogers’ Tidal Basin Pumping Station, and its palette of primary yellows, blues and reds subtly nods to the architect’s language of colour and structure. The reference anchors the work in its immediate architectural context, while the floral forms soften and humanise the surrounding built environment.
Before the Royal Docks became a global port, the land was marshland. The transformation from wetlands to docklands to residential neighbourhood mirrors the migration and cultural diversity that defines Newham today. Blue Sunset reflects that layered history through botanical storytelling.
“The Royal Docks have seen massive changes in the last two hundred years. From soft marshland, to bustling docklands and now home to thousands of Londoners. We felt it was important to reference this history and make an artwork that connects to the people who live here. Through engaging with the community, we have created our own celebration bouquet that incorporates the favourite flowers of community members, alongside those that reference Victorian Floriography and that highlight the importance of preserving the health of natural ecosystems. We want to bring joy by making maximalist nature-inspired art which is bursting with colour.”
The project was curated by Hive Curates, co-produced by Hive Curates and Royal Docks, and commissioned by Royal Docks. It continues Graphic Rewilding’s mission to improve wellbeing through nature-inspired art. Founded by creative duo Catherine Borowski and Lee Baker, the studio creates vast, immersive floral works informed by research showing that even images of nature can reduce stress and improve mood.
In an area with limited access to green space, Blue Sunset functions as a permanent pocket of colour and calm. It is both a visual landmark and a daily companion to those who pass it. A reminder that nature, even when reimagined in paint, still holds power.
Graphic Rewilding’s work draws from diverse influences including Japanese ink painting, Dutch still life, and contemporary artists such as Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Yayoi Kusama, Brian Clarke and John Piper. Their large-scale compositions blur the boundaries between art, environment and community.
With Blue Sunset, they transform a densely populated stretch of East London into something softer, brighter and more reflective. A place where colour carries memory. Where flowers tell stories…and where public art becomes a shared space for pause.
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