Slices of Peace
Kings Hill

Slices of Peace is a public artwork by artist and designer Yinka Ilori in Orchard Park – a new public park in Kings Hill, near West Malling in Kent. The sculpture is inspired by the rich culture and heritage of Kent, in particular, its history of apple growing. The installation consists of a group of brightly-coloured, decorative apple sculptures with an accompanying soundscape composed by Peter Adjaye.

The life cycle of apples – from seed to flower to fruit – forms the basis of the playful patterns that Yinka Ilori has designed for the sculptures.

In 2021, Yinka Ilori began a three-month residency in Kings Hill, regularly visiting the area and hosting a series of events themed around the senses, with support from students at University for the Creative Arts. These culminated in a choral workshop led by composer and musician Peter Adjaye, supported by jazz vocalist Randolph Matthews, based around West African ‘Call and Response’ techniques. Adjaye has created a soundtrack, Freedom Sounds – Lift Every Voice, to accompany Yinka Ilori’s artwork.

Yinka Ilori was appointed as Artist in Residence in Kings Hill in 2021 as part of the Kings Hill Public Art Commission: a cultural partnership between Kings Hill development partners Liberty Property Trust and Kent County Council (KCC), Turner Contemporary, and the University for the Creative Arts (UCA), as part of a placemaking strategy by FutureCity. Slices of Peace was curated by Turner Contemporary.

Client
Liberty Property Trust / Kent County Council

Practice
Art