Olympic Portrait

Nicola Green’s Olympic Project was created in 2012 in honour of the Olympic Games in London.

The Olympic bid, championed by Lord Sebastian Coe, was won on the ideal of a modern vibrant, multicultural, London, and the motto Inspire a Generation.

Nicola Green was commissioned by Haringey Council and the Cultural Olympiad to create a large-scale artwork that would reflect these ideals. She facilitated workshops in London from which she created a series of portraits of twenty-four Olympic sports; dynamic representations of athletes which were inspired by the ideas and imaginings of children from diverse backgrounds.

The final works champion diversity, celebrate local and national cultural life, encourage collaboration with the creative energy and imaginings of children and illustrate the ongoing power of the Olympics to inspire a new generation.

Workshops

Green initiated workshops with underprivileged racially diverse children in North and East London. In these workshops, Green encouraged students to explore what sport meant to them and how excelling in sport could motivate them on an individual as well as a collective level.

 In these workshops, the young people created drawings that represented the Olympic sports, and what they found inspiring. The goal was to empower the children to see themselves in these roles and to see themselves as champions or heroes. 

Green then developed the children’s ideas into the final artwork, The Olympic Portrait (2012).

Quasar Frames

Green also researched the power and impact of the Olympic legacy, in particular, the symbolism of the Olympic torch and its never-ending light. This inspired her to create an artwork that would also serve as a sustainable light source.

The final works are displayed in Quasar Frames™ which emit light without the use of power.

Green has developed an innovative use of Perspex, which gathers and refracts light, creating a beautiful, ambient glow that emits from the frame’s edge. The result is a dramatic statement that can transform a space, creating a striking focal point. When curated by Green, the Quasar Frames™ create the illusion of internal stained glass. Quasar Frames™ are available exclusively to Green’s clients and are created working closely with highly skilled British craftspeople and accomplished master artisans. 

Click here for more about the Quasar Frame™

Customer Reviews:

“I bought this piece as a present for my sailing enthusiast husband, and he was thrilled! The frame glows even with a small light on which I wasn’t expecting, but doesn’t glow in the dark which is a bonus as its in the bedroom, all in all a rather successful gift!”

“Frame glows just like the pictures on the website – love the simplicity of this piece”

 “I came across the Quasar pieces when I was in the Stratford store looking at the Olympic park view, bought one as soon as I got home. The sides really do glow a lot (according to my son, just like a lightsaber!) Really happy with it!”

Portrait of Lord Coe

Green also created two portraits featuring Lord Coe at the centre. On 2nd July 2012, three pupils from Stamford Hill Primary School presented the portrait to Lord Coe on behalf of Haringey Council. 

The portrait was installed in the John Lewis Olympic Room in Stratford overlooking the Olympic Park. Tourists continue to go to the Stadium Suite and photograph themselves in front of the “image of the Olympics, which glows without power”.