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BOAT
GUY'S HOSPITAL
written by: Elizabeth Dearnley
animated by: Ellen MacArthur
with support from: Commissioned by Science Gallery at King’s College London. Sculpture part of the Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity fine art and heritage collection.
"I used to race around the world and people said I was brave; I don’t think I was as I chose to do it. I’ve worked alongside young people recovering from leukaemia and cancer for 15 years now, they are the ones who demonstrate real courage.”
Ellen MacArthur
In 1958, archaeologists made an unexpected discovery near Great Maze Pond: a wooden Roman sailing barge!
The boat had been abandoned in a backwater of the Thames nearly 2,000 years ago, when Southwark was divided into a series of small islands. It was left underground to be preserved, and now lies beneath the new Cancer Centre at Guy's, which opened in September 2016.
The bronze sculpture, Boat, was created by Daniel Silver, one of four artists commissioned by Guy's to create original artworks for the Cancer Centre. Silver's sculpture pays tribute to the ancient boat found at the site, and reflects on the connections between the people of Roman Southwark and those today.
Boat is voiced by yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur, who founded the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust to help young people recovering from cancer or leukemia to regain their confidence through sailing.
Commissioned by Science Gallery at King’s College London. Sculpture part of the Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity fine art and heritage collection.
Watch Daniel Silver talking about his boat sculpture here
Find out about the work of the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust here