Simon Periton

Hyperaccumulator, a permanent public art commission for the London borough of Wandsworth

This public artwork remembers the willow plants (Salix viminalis) that grew here along the River Thames from the 18th century, giving Osiers Road its name. Osier withies (strong, flexible willow stems) were woven locally to create baskets and willow bucks, used to catch eels.

Hyperaccumulator consists of a set of artworks fabricated in weathered steel. A large, fossilised willow leaf with eyes, The Weaver, watches over the area, and three unique tree grilles, The Bucks, filter the surface water and allow the trees to burst through.

Salix viminalisis a known ‘hyperaccumulator’; a plant capable of absorbing and extracting high concentrations of contaminants from the surrounding soil and water. This cleansing process is called Phytoremediation, which helps to support a healthier ecosystem.