What Nelson Sees by Paul Cocksedge

Born from the designer's lifelong curiosity about what Admiral Nelson witnesses from his elevated perch, this ambitious public installation represents Cocksedge's attempt to answer a question that has captivated him as a Londoner: teleporting viewers fifty metres skyward to discover a view that has been hidden for nearly two centuries. The sculpture comprises a series of intersecting tubes that form a striking freestanding structure. These lines form telescopic viewing portals, inviting visitors to peer through and discover London's skyline from Nelson’s perspective. When audiences peer through, they will see what Nelson sees. Visitors will be able to rewind time to experience how London has evolved over the past century, the changing forms of transport from cars to horse-drawn carriages, from streetlights to gas lamps and shifting fashions. The view then fast-forwards and a moving vignette visualises a speculative future: Will London become more self sufficient and increase local food production? Will streets adapt to a hotter climate? Will more areas be pedestrianised? Through these vignettes, Cocksedge invites audiences to reflect on London’s past, present and possible future. Brought to life with Flow, Google’s AI filmmaking tool powered by Veo, these moving vignettes aim to capture the essence of London as a perpetual melting pot and a city of relentless energy, creativity, and reinvention that has continuously transformed itself while maintaining its distinctive character and historic significance. 'What Nelson Sees' uses one of London’s most enduring monuments, a column that has stood for almost 200 years, as the anchor for a conversation about the next 200 years. It connects the sweep of London’s history to the possibilities and uncertainties of its future. At its heart it is about perspective, about looking out from where Nelson stands and seeing London: past, present, and future. With thanks to materials fabricator Steel and Form