In London, a fountain with 'vomiting' statues denounces wastewater scandal

©picture alliance / Pacific Press | Laura Chiesa

In the heart of London's South Bank, at Observation Point, a new kind of fountain has appeared: it celebrates neither heroes nor classical myths. Its statues - men, women and children - seem to vomit brownish, murky water. The visual impact is immediate, almost disturbing. And that's precisely the effect its aiming for.

The installation is called 'The Fountain of Filth' and was created for the launch of Dirty Business, Channel 4's new series inspired by true events. More than a simple promotional operation, it's an urban intervention that turns a traditional architectural symbol into a direct indictment of the UK's sewage scandal.

From fiction to public denunciation

This 10-metre-wide structure, on show from February 23 to 25, revisits the aesthetics of monumental fountains in a contemporary manner. Instead of limpid jets of water, a dark flow visually evokes the untreated discharges which, in recent years, have fuelled polemics and protest movements.

The statues' faces are far from anonymous. Some were created from 3D scans of real activists, including surfer and former national champion Sophie Hellyer and journalist Ella Foote. Their experiences of exposure to contaminated water inspired these sculpted figures. Illness, discomfort and indignation become a physical, visible presence in public space.

Power at the top, citizens at the bottom

At the top of the fountain sits a man in an elegant suit, his pockets and briefcase overflowing with cash. This is the work's most explicit metaphor: while bodies at the bottom suffer health consequences, economic power sits at the top, accused of favoring profit over investment in infrastructure.

The contrast is striking, and designed to provoke debate. Here, art is not decoration, but a political statement. The stated aim of 4Creative, Channel 4's in-house creative agency, is to transform a familiar object into a topic of national conversation.

Beyond the fountain: a large-scale campaign

A QR code plaque invites passers-by to discover the 'inconvenient truth' behind the scandal, linking them to testimonials and content related to the fountain.and content related to the series, broadcast from February 23 on three consecutive evenings. The project is part of a wider strategy: advertising trucks parked outside water company headquarters with hard-hitting messages, and actions on beaches affected by the discharges.

By doing this, television promotion becomes a lever for public pressure. The fountain doesn't just make an impact with its striking image. It makes a largely invisible problem tangible, placing it at the heart of the city and public debate. In London, for a few days, the water didn't gush into the sky. It forced everyone to lower their eyes to reality.

(©GreenMe.it 2026/Managing editor : Julie Morgan - The Press Junction/Picture : picture alliance / Pacific Press | Laura Chiesa)