Goldsmiths University's New Colour Tower Lights Up New Cross

July 29, 2026

South London News Smart London Desk Edited By Jimmy Nsubuga

New Cross residents can now enjoy a dazzling new landmark as Goldsmiths, University of London unveils 'Chromorama', a spectacular 20-metre tower of light and colour by internationally acclaimed artist David Batchelor. This vibrant installation marks a significant creative addition to the area.

A City Boy's Palette

The striking tower is the latest development in Batchelor's 30-year artistic journey exploring how colour impacts our cities, both culturally and emotionally. He describes the work as "a vehicle for colour."

Batchelor explained his fascination with urban colour, stating, "I've been working with colour as a subject for over 30 years." He noted the historical resistance to colour in Western art, saying, "When I went to art school in the 70s, no one was really doing colour. It was conceptual art, minimalism – very austere, very black and white and grey."

Illuminating the Urban Night

Batchelor, who identifies as "a city boy," draws inspiration from the illuminated colours of urban environments rather than natural landscapes. He finds the city's glow most prominent at night.

"In cities, the best colours come out at night. The city, which is largely grey during the day, it's in the night that it begins to glow," Batchelor observed. His work often incorporates salvaged materials, reflecting the industrial and everyday nature of urban colour.

Battling Chromophobia

The installation also ties into Batchelor's influential writings, particularly his book 'Chromophobia,' which examines the historical prejudice against colour in Western culture. He argues that colour has often been marginalised.

"I was trying to describe what I'd begun to notice, this resistance to colour in the West, this tendency to marginalise colour and to treat it as other to the workings of the higher Western mind," he said.

A Return Home for Chromorama

Originally commissioned for a corporate site in the City of London, 'Chromorama' has been structurally re-engineered for its new public home at Goldsmiths. This relocation is particularly meaningful for Batchelor.

He has a long-standing connection with Goldsmiths, having taught and exhibited there for decades, even holding the position of Emeritus Professor. "The first bit of teaching I picked up in London was at Goldsmiths, in about 1985 or 86," he shared.

Batchelor hopes the installation will bring simple pleasure and delight to viewers. "Art for me can be about pleasure, delight – just going, ‘I like that,’ like a firework display almost," he commented.

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South London News Smart London Desk Edited By Jimmy Nsubuga

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