Sculptor hopes her latest work will ‘inspire’ Canary Wharf community

A new sculpture created by a nationally acclaimed artist was unveiled in an east end park yesterday.

The latest work by contemporary sculptor Helaine Blumenfeld OBE has been named Fortuna after the Roman goddess of fortune.
The five-metre high bronze sculptor in Jubilee Park, in Bank Street, joins an already impressive body of art created by world renowned artists in Canary Wharf.

Helaine hopes that her latest piece inspires all those that work and live nearby the park.

“I am honoured to have been invited to create a sculpture for Canary Wharf,” said Helaine.

“My aim has been not only to enhance the environment, but also to connect and ultimately inspire all those who will be living, working or just passing by. Like the Roman goddess who shares the same name, Fortuna is an expression of the fullness and complexity of the human condition with all its turbulence, commitment, fragility, hope, inner strength, joy, dependency and continuity.

“I hope that in Fortuna, viewers will find a revelation of the many facets of life, and above all, the positive power of beauty and the sense of possibility it offers us.”

The artwork is the newest addition to Canary Wharf’s cultural masterplan which has transformed the 128 acre site into the home of one of Britain’s largest collections of public art.

Sir George Iacobescu, chairman and CEO at Canary Wharf Group, said: “We’re immensely proud to be unveiling this extraordinary piece from Helaine Blumenfeld in Jubilee Park and adding it to our ever-expanding collection of public art.

“There’s a real synergy between our vision to make Canary Wharf a lifestyle destination for everyone to enjoy and Blumenfeld’s passion for making art accessible to the general public.”