About Head, Heart, Hand

Head, Heart, Hand is a new public artwork conceptualised and designed by local artist Amber Khokhar as part of the transformation of Cockpit’s Deptford studios.

The brief was to create an artwork in collaboration with the local community that celebrates the rich history of Deptford and continues the long-standing tradition of community-led and collaborative artwork on this spot.

'The idea is to engage local people by featuring landmarks and local figures and events, both historical and contemporary, like the Deptford High Street anchor. Some will be nostalgic, some touching and inspirational. Local people will look to see how many they recognise and share their knowledge with others. Newer arrivals will learn about the area’s rich history,' says Amber.

As part of the process, a consultation took place with over 1,500 households and 170 local organisations invited to share ideas for the new artwork. Over 450 contributions were received, many of which were incorporated into the nearly 100 different hand-drawn illustrations that make up the final design.

Throughout the process, Amber led collaborative workshops for local children and community groups, including students from Tidemill Academy, St Joseph’s and Drumbeat SEN School as well as hands-on creative workshops for people of all ages, hosted by The Albany and Deptford Lounge. People taking part made line drawings to map their daily routes around Deptford, and translated ‘Head, Heart, Hands’ into their mother tongue.

The final design — an intricate collage of 1,300 hand-glazed triangular tiles measuring a huge 21 metres wide and 3.5 metres high and spanning the whole of the Cockpit façade outside the Craft Garden  — captures the area’s rich history and celebrates the Deptford community of today.

Nearly 100 different hand-drawn illustrations celebrate local people and events, while a second series of tiles reads ‘Head, Heart, Hand’ in the 40+ languages most heard in Deptford’s streets, from Bengali and Yoruba to Polish and Scots Gaelic.

'For me the triangles symbolise humankind as a trinity of body, mind and spirit; our existence in the past, present and future, and our place in the heavens, earth and waters. As we project ourselves within this world, we take direction from triangles, as found on navigational compasses, symbolising a direction of travel and trade.

'In the mural, the triangles directed to the heavens, or the unknown, are a reference to Deptford’s maritime history as a starting point for exploration and trade. The triangles pointing down pinpoint our place now — all the variety and wealth that can be found in Deptford’s communities,' says Amber.

The tiles have been hand-glazed and manufactured by specialists Craven Dunnill Jackfield, based in historic Ironbridge Gorge, whose other projects range from the Palace of Westminster and Parliament House Melbourne to Kings Cross Tunnel and Studio Voltaire.

The public art commission was supported by Cockayne – Grants for the Arts and The London Community Foundation, with contributions from The Clothworkers’ Company, The Drapers’ Charitable Fund and The Haberdashers’ Company.