All aboard the chimp express, we’re moving down the river!

10 chimpanzees from the hugely successful public art exhibition, ‘Chimps Are Family’, are off to Kingston upon Thames, the next location in line to welcome the adorable apes in this interactive sculpture for conservation.

London Bridge opened the public exhibition and has played host since May 2022. Kingston First, the town centre’s Business Improvement District, has partnered with artists Gillie and Marc to bring 10 of the original 18 chimps to Kingston’s town centre from late January 2023.

“We were thrilled to see the reception from the public at London Bridge. Now we’re so excited to reach a whole new group of people in Kingston and spread the message of conservation even further,” shares Marc.

Gillie said “I was born in Kingston Hospital and lived my first years in Kingston upon Thames. My earliest fond childhood memories were spent walking along the river with my mother and father. It is so special to be able to bring ‘Chimps Are Family’ to the place and community where my life began.”

Chimps are remarkable animals that share 98% of our DNA. But they’ve also been a driver for evolutionary understanding, turning the scientific thinking of the time on its head to give us a better understanding of what it is to be human. Thanks to the ground breaking research of Jane Goodall, we have discovered a link to our evolutionary past and also a much greater understanding of ourselves.

“While we were studying the chimps, we were absolutely blown away by how similar they were to us! So many of their behaviours were just like ours and the relationships they have, especially between mother and child, was so heart warming,” remarked Gillie.

These behaviours are what inspired their public sculpture exhibition, ‘Chimps Are Family’. Showcasing 10 different chimpanzee emotions and behaviours such as laughing, grief, and imitation. The public is given a unique glimpse into the life of a chimp and a greater understanding of our close cousins.

“We really hope that this sculpture will help people to see the very real similarities between us and chimps. They laugh at funny things, get cross with one another, and have wonderful bonds of friendship. We hope that once people see how similar we really are they will be moved to protect them,” explains Marc.

Kirsten Henly, Chief Executive of Kingston First, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with world-renowned artists Gillie and Marc to bring these wonderful sculptures to Kingston upon Thames. We know that people are always looking for new, exciting experiences; free and accessible public artwork is an important strategy to create vibrant and successful places and encourages people to visit their local town and businesses. Ten characterful chimps will be located on a trail to discover around Kingston town centre, and we look forward to welcoming the many visitors and local residents who will be coming to enjoy them.”

Despite our great similarities and connection, chimpanzees are critically endangered. Unfortunately, it’s because of our actions. With our cities expanding at a rapid rate, their habitats are being destroyed to make space for housing, agriculture, mines, and roads. The chimps are struggling to find enough food which can lead them into dangerous situations and cause human-wildlife conflict.

They are also being targeted by hunters for bushmeat or to sell baby chimps on the illegal pet trade. These interactions have resulted in them catching our diseases and leaving them very ill. The worst being Ebola; a disease which has killed hundreds of thousands of chimps since the 1980s.

‘Chimps Are Family’ is giving the people of Kingston upon Thames a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get up close and personal with our cousins, but also the opportunity to save them before it’s too late.

These sculptures are designed to be interactive. The public is encouraged to get as close as they want, touching their faces, examining their hands, and giving them a hug. This unique form of public conservation is here to inspire love and connection.

The ten chimps will be dotted around Kingston’s town centre and maps will be available in local businesses and at both kingstonuponthames.info and lovethelast.com.

Each of the chimps will be displayed with a QR code where the public can learn all about the individual chimpanzee and find important information surrounding conservation. They will also have the option to donate funds to go directly to save chimpanzees.

The installation promotes the idea that it is possible to share the world we live in with chimps. It reflects the artists’ commitment to ensuring the survival of the species, with all donations going to WWF.