Art
Greyworld new public art
Art
When you hear people say ‘south of the river’ in London, it likely comes with a certain derogatory connotation. But all this is changing rapidly, largely thanks to the ongoing redevelopment of the Southbank, and of course the relocation of Wallpaper* HQ.
Click here to see the statue in various stages of completion
Almost daily, something is opened or unveiled and the latest in this string of creative endorsements comes in the form of a six-metre high bronze statue by Greyworld – unveiled earlier this week within spitting distance of our own offices. The work is named ‘Monument to the Unknown Artist’ and forms part of Land Securities’ continued drive to inject the borough of Southwark with public art. Last year, you might remember we profiled another of their works in the area, ‘Poured Lines’, Ian Davenport’s 50 metre ceramic mural, which graces the underbelly of a nearby railway bridge. Though we're not entirely convinced by the artistic merits of the new statue, we applaud Land Securities' scheme to embrace public art as a way of rejuvenating the urban landscape.
Greyworld’s monument reflects the collective’s signature ethos: that public art should engage the public as much as possible. More than simply a large statue, the figure is the first animatronic sculpture of its kind. It reacts to and mimics passers-by, changing its pose to imitate the movements of the people gawping at it from below. And not ones to simply take the illusion for granted – we’ve secured a selection of behind the scenes shots to show you what goes on under the skin, so to speak...
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‘Monument to the Unkown Artist’ is located on Sumner Street, London SE1
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