Kingston's chimpanzee art installations from acclaimed art duo, Gillie and Marc, have been revealed around Richmond town centre.

The nine bronze chimp statues called 'Chimps are Family' have now been donated from the artists in collaboration with Be Richmond and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

While their migration has proven a disappointment for some locals, the chimps were actually first shown around London Bridge before 10 of the original 18 sculptures arrived in Kingston.

One half of the artist duo, Gillie, was born in Kingston and spent her early childhood in the area.

Speaking to Nub News in January 2023, she said: "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 Family' was first shown around London Bridge before coming to Kingston and Richmond. (Photo: gillieandmarc.art)

Gillie and Marc first came up with the idea for the iconic chimps after meeting the families of three of the great ape species — chimps, orangutans, and gorillas — in the wild.

Speaking to Nub News, the artists said: "We were struck by how similar they are to us. Their sweet little babies were just as cheeky as human babies and very attached to their mothers.

"Watching them grasp onto things just like human babies do, we felt a deep connection and were reminded of our shared evolutionary past.

"This experience moved us profoundly and inspired us to create sculptures that celebrate these similarities and raise awareness about the need to protect them."

Artists Gillie and Marc say they brought the project to Richmond because of its vibrant community. (Photos: Be Richmond)

Gillie and Marc add: "Richmond was selected as the next location for the "Chimps Are Family" exhibition due to its vibrant community and commitment to cultural and environmental initiatives the artist reveal.

"After the success at London Bridge and Kingston Upon Thames, we wanted to reach a new audience and spread the message of conservation further.

"Richmond's diverse population and active engagement with public art make it an ideal setting for our sculptures.

"We are excited to see how the residents of Richmond will interact with and be inspired by our work."

Nine of the ten bronze statues seen around Kingston have been moved to Richmond. (Photo: Be Richmond)

The artists say the main goal of the project is to support the work that WWF-UK does to promote the awareness of endangered wildlife and fund positive initiatives for their survival.

To find out more about WWF and donate, click here, while to find out more about Gillie and Marc, click here.

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