Central London Welcomes You Back With Biggest Public Art Takeover Of The City
Image via Art of London
The Royal Academy of Arts has teamed up with Art of London to welcome people back into the city in time for ‘Freedom Day’, where most COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted.
Until the end of August, Piccadilly, London, will be decorated with art created especially for the event by five celebrated artists: Michael Armitage, Vanessa Jackson, Isaac Julien, Farshid Moussavi, and Yinka Shonibare. Their vibrant work will span 30 overhanging flags, 13 pedestrian crossings, and segments screened across the the 780sqm (8396sqft) Piccadilly Lights.
Named the Piccadilly Art Takeover, the project is backed by Sky Arts, Piccadilly Lights, Westminster City Council and the Mayor of London. It comes as a move to boost the usually bustling city center after it suffered from months of desolation over the pandemic.
In charge of the overhanging flags are Michael Armitage, Farshid Moussavi, and Yinka Shonibare. Inspiration for their creations was drawn from the artists’ experiences of the city; for Armitage, the local key workers near his studio, and for Shonibare, the Eros statue in Piccadilly Circus.
Shonibare describes how the incorporation of the rose in his design hoped to “to express the love to people who want to come to London.”
“With this commission we want to embrace and welcome people back,” he explains.
Image via Art of London
Vanessa Jackson was the artist behind the 13 pedestrian crossings, injecting a burst of brightness onto the streets around the city’s center. Named UpTownDancing, the series’ aim is to evoke dance-inspired joy and movement.
But that’s not all; passersby will be invited to access and take part in an AR activity designed by Isaac Julien. Short segments of Lessons of the Hour, described as “a meditative reflection” on author and philosopher Frederik Douglass, are shown. A full 30-minute screening is scheduled for the end of August. Using mobile phones, the audience will be able to interact with the 10-screen display and watch and listen on their own devices.
Image via Art of London
This is only a small part of the Art of London Summer Season program, three months of activity across the West End. Other inclusions span an AR gallery and popup exhibitions. The takeover is in the vein of Transport for London’s campaign welcoming locals back to public areas. The activation sees signage all over the city being converted to read messages like “Dinner after work” and “Table for 2.”
“It’s an honor to be able to celebrate the people of London, as we welcome people back to the iconic area of Piccadilly,” Armitage tells It’s Nice That.
Image via Art of London
[via It’s Nice That, images via Art of London]
Also check out these recent news
