The City of London Corporation has announced the unveiling of seven sculptures in London’s Square Mile by internationally renowned artists Michael Craig-Martin, Tracey Emin, Angus Fairhurst, Dan Graham, Thomas Houseago, Julian Opie and Yayoi Kusama transforming Great St Helen’s in the City of London. Great St Helen’s: Sculpture Space, is a free open-air curated exhibition which shows until January 2013.
A new work by Dan Graham called ‘City of London Rococo’, especially made for the exhibition after the artist visited the site will be viewable alongside the seven other pieces including Tracey Emin’s renowned Roman Standard and Thomas Houseago, Bottle II which is exhibited for the first time.
Dan Graham’s specially commissioned pavilions blur the line between art and architecture, mirror and glass structures that create diverse optical effects. Created as hybrids, they operate as quasi- functional spaces and art installations. Studies of space and light, they are situated in public spaces and are activated by the presence of the viewer.
Great St Helen’s: Sculpture Space aims to enhance its urban surroundings with cutting-edge contemporary sculpture. One of the central concepts of the curated show, which is in its second year, is the site-specific response by the artists. Set amongst London’s iconic architectural landmarks, including The Gherkin by Norman Foster and the Lloyd’s building by Richard Rogers, the works, which can be viewed at all times will draw visitors into The City and encourage them to engage with bold and striking art.
Great St Helen’s: Sculpture Space is a unique collaboration between the City of London Corporation, the elected body which looks after the Square Mile global business district around St Paul’s, locally based businesses Hiscox, Aviva, British Land, Aon and IVG UK. It provides the opportunity to engage new audiences with established and emerging contemporary artists in a unique setting. The project uses expertise from the art world, artists, galleries and specialist art handlers MTEC.
A rich programme of events run by Open-City is will inhabit the public realm in and around Great St Helen’s, Undershaft and St Helen’s Square EC3. These will culminate in free family events on Saturday 23 June 2012 in Leadenhall Market and on Cheapside in the Cheapside Fayre. These events are open to all as part of Celebrate the City: four days in the Square Mile which takes place 21-24 June.
Illustrated Tracey Emin “Roman Standard”, 2005