Memorial to Sachem Mahomet Weyonomon, Southwark

Commissioned by Southwark Cathedral and the Mohegan Tribe, Connecticut. This memorial is to their Sachem who died in London in 1736 while waiting to present a petition against the white settlers invasion of their land rites. Carved from a boulder from their tribal lands, it was unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II on the 22 November 2006. Peter took as a starting point the four lobed 'medallion' shape, common in Mohegan culture and representing the universe, at the summit of the stone and wanted the concentric linear pattern to end up parallel to the bottom of the stone at ground level. The undulating lines are like trail motifs, thought to symbolise the path or cycle of life. At ground level, the lines or 'trails' begin by simply following the contours of the stone, metamorphosing as they rise to the apex, into the 'medallion' motif with its connotations of the four directions surround the space of 'pervasive' sprit'. This linear pattern was carved in soft low relief, not only preserving but enhancing the natural form of the rock. The overall effect is that of the rock rising out of the ground like the tip of an iceberg, implying that it is the only visible part of a massive form beneath the ground. This has the effect of giving the sculpture a much greater presence than it's actual physical size.

Open to the public during daylight hours.