Black History Month x The Outernet: Celebrating Black Londoners in Power and Pride

With creative led by Daisy Gaston and vividly brought to life by animator Abi Tomasiewicz, the North and West walls of the Outernet transformed over October into a single, immersive canvas. Here, flowing threads of colour - inspired by African fabrics and cultural palettes - represent community, and the interwoven nature of London’s Black heritage. 

Aligning with this year’s theme: Standing Firm in Power and Pride, the installation is a powerful visual tribute to the contribution and resilience of Black communities across London and the UK. Presented proudly across large-scale public screens, overlooking Tottenham Court Road, the piece stands as a beacon of pride and representation in one of the city’s busiest spaces. It reflects on the mayor’s ongoing commitment to recognising and supporting the city’s diverse communities, while highlighting the importance of visibility and representation in public spaces.

As the threads flow, scattered borough shapes - each resembling a unique fabric piece and representing a different historical figure - begin to shift and interlock, eventually forming the full map of London. This puzzle-like moment powerfully captures the essence of unity.

Among the historical figures honoured is Claudia Jones, founder of Britain’s first major Black newspaper and organiser of the indoor carnivals of the 1950s. She was one of the pioneers of the first Notting Hill Carnival in 1966, now one of the world’s most iconic celebrations of Black culture and pride.

Another figure celebrated, from the present, is Jamz Supernova, hailed as ‘one of the leading next generation DJs in the UK’. She is celebrated for her ground breaking work in music and her support of emerging artists through her label, Future Bounce. 

Together, these figures, past and present, embody the installation’s core message: that every individual, every act of creativity and resilience, contributes to the ever-evolving story of London. The Outernet installation stands as both a celebration and a reminder, a living testament to the power, pride, and influence of Black Londoners woven into the city’s very fabric.