British artist James Capper unveils his sculpture ‘Mudskipper’ this month

Mudskipper British artist James Capper will unveil his new large-scale mobile sculpture Mudskipper this month as a public sculpture that will engage and integrate with the life of the River Thames.

Mudskipper is a fully-mobile sculpture – 9.2 metres in length and 12 tonnes in weight – which has the ability to move across water and land on shore through the use of two step-type propulsion legs.

Inspired by vertebrates, Capper’s new work challenges and the definitions of engineering and art and how the two are connected.

Mudskipper will be on display to the public from May 16 – June 16 at Battersea Power Station and June 17- July 21 at The Royal Docks.

Free demonstrations of the sculpture in action will take place near the Thames Path by Chelsea Bridge Car park, The Riverside Hamilton House and Nine Elms Pavilion.

Honor Fishburn, director at Battersea Power Station Development Company, said: “This work is particularly relevant to the power station given its location on the Thames, where once hundreds of workboats would have delivered coal to the building.

It will be great to see Mudskipper moored in front of the power station and we hope to make the sculpture a long-term fixture on our jetty in due course.”

Leader of Wandsworth council, Ravi Govindia, said: “We’re excited to welcome this interesting mix of engineering and art to the riverside at Nine Elms.

“This area of Wandsworth is undergoing its own evolution from an industrial area into a new town centre, so it is wonderful that we have commissioned this co-transformation of a fishing boat into a walking sculpture.

I’m sure it will prove as fascinating to local residents as it will to people visiting Battersea Power Station pier where it will be moored between performances.”

Kirsten Dunne, Senior Strategy Officer, Culture and the Creative Industries, Mayor of London said: “I was so delighted to hear about Mudskipper.

James Capper is a hugely innovative and exciting artist and we are very happy to endorse the project.”