In its largest edition yet, the sixth annual ‘Sculpture in the City’ has transformed the Square Mile once again into an open-air, urban exhibition. Until May 2017, works are being showcased in and around some of London’s architectural landmarks.
‘Sculpture in the City’ is a public art program run by the City of London that installs contemporary artworks in unexpected locations around the district. A collaboration between the City of London Corporation, local businesses and the art world, the program provides an opportunity for the public to engage and interact with contemporary art and the artists on show. It aims to enhance the urban environment with its juxtaposition of creativity and the landscape of finance. Featuring both established and emerging international artists, previous contributors have included Ai Weiwei, Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin.
Seventeen works are exhibited this year. The curation features large-scale pieces by English artists Sarah Lucas and Sir Anthony Caro, South African artists William Kentridge and Gerhard Marx, and Italian sculptor and conceptual artist Giuseppe Penone. Also included are a 7m-high, cast-iron head by Catalan sculptor Jaume Plensa at the Gherkin and delicate paper chain sculptures by Peruvian artist Lizi Sánchez strung throughout multiple locations from Leadenhall Market to the Cheesegrater.
On top of the installations dotted around the city, complementary educational workshops run by Open-City are being held after the project’s installation, to engage and inspire schoolchildren and the wider community.
