Artist shortlist: Memorial to victims of transatlantic slavery

The main artwork will sit outside the entrance to the Museum of London Docklands in West India Quay. 

This location was chosen because of its connection to the transatlantic slavery. Warehouses in West India Quay were built to receive the products of slavery. They are some of the only surviving buildings of their kind in the capital.  

There will also be satellite sites to connect with different stories of slavery across London. Through these satellite sites, the memorial will bring to life the weight of this history and the legacy of the slave trade in London, the UK and the world.

This memorial focuses on those who suffered, were oppressed and forced to overcome horrific harms committed against them. So we refer clearly to the victims of transatlantic slavery.  

We acknowledge the word ‘victim’ comes with complex meanings. For some, it validates that horrifying crimes were committed against enslaved Africans. For others, it is passive and ahistorical, denying the strength and resistance of those enslaved. 

We acknowledge the terms and language is continually changing when talking about transatlantic slavery. We will continue to listen and explore how we can best talk about this project in a manner that is respectful, humanising and accurate.

Memorials are powerful symbols. Many public memorials in London commemorate enslavers or focus on abolitionists rather than the enslaved. This memorial is a chance to redress this balance. 

Much of London’s wealth was built on the labour of enslaved Africans. A memorial is one way to remember. It will help unite the shared history of the city and grow a collective awareness of this period and its legacy. By honoring this history, we respect and empower all Londoners. 

This memorial contributes to a wider conversation already happening in the UK and worldwide about how to recognise and discuss this shared history. It will acknowledge London’s role in transatlantic slavery. And foreground a major permanent artwork by a Black artist, at a time when Britain’s Black art scene is being celebrated worldwide. 

There is a growing appetite for this history. Through a London-wide collaborative process between artists, children and communities, this will be a chance to bring this history alive in an imaginative and compelling way.

The memorial is underpinned by a curatorial strategy, as well as deep community engagement.

London is one of the most diverse cities in the world, with more than 300 languages spoken every day. Yet its statues, plaques and street names don't reflect our city's stories. 

The Mayor of London is committed to ensuring that the capital’s population and history are celebrated and commemorated. After unveiling the statue of suffragist leader Millicent Fawcett in Parliament Square in 2018 – the first statue of a woman in the Square – the Mayor and his senior team set up the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm. 

This memorial is part of the work started by the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm. It also brings together other groups, such as the UNESCO Community Advisory Group, other partners and stakeholders, and our Partners Board.