Culture

Yayoi Kusama to Create Outdoor Artworks for London’s Elizabeth Line

The bespoke outdoor installation presents the artist’s famous polka-dot motif, and capture her journey through elements of modern design and inspiration.

Mar 28, 2018 | By Andrea Sim

Images courtesy of Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo/Singapore/Shanghai and Victoria Miro, London/Venice

Notable for her polka-dot motif and following several successful installations from the Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama is called upon to create another installation, which will be the artist’s first-ever permanent installation for UK.

London’s Elizabeth line is the new Liverpool Street station, which is slated to open in December. Commuters guiding from the public spaces outside the station and into its eastern entrance at Broadgate, will be able to catch a glimpse of Kusama’s site-specific work, titled “Infinite Accumulation.”

Yayoi Kusama to Create Outdoor Artworks for London’s Elizabeth Line

This massive permanent installation work comprising a series of mirrored steel sculptures, measuring 12 metres wide and 10 metres high will encapsulate the artist’s famous polka-dot motif. As illustrated in the artist’s impression above, the dots appear as polished spheres supported and connected by curved rods.

Image courtesy of Getty

Catherine McGuinness, Policy Chairman, City of London Corporation, said: “As one of the UK’s major supporters of the arts, the City of London Corporation has taken pride in supporting the Crossrail Art Programme, which has brought together well-respected artists from around the world.”

Kusama is one of nine artists selected for the Crossrail Art Programme and “the addition of Yayoi Kusama and Conrad Shawcross to the already hugely impressive roster of artists creating bespoke works for the Elizabeth line is a testament to the scale and ambition of the new railway,” Sir Terry Morgan, Crossrail Chairman commented.

“Kusama is one of the final two artists to be announced, along with British artist Conrad Shawcross, who is also readying a work for the Liverpool Street station in the heart of the City of London,” reported AFP Relax News.

“The Crossrail Art Programme is the biggest single addition to London’s collection of public art in a generation. It will cement London’s place as a global capital for arts and culture,” Morgan added.

For artist Conrad Shawcross, his works will showcase a bronze sculpture. Ross Sayers, Development Director, Landsec has this to say: “Conrad’s ‘Manifold’ sculpture, which maps the complex shape of a piano chord, perfectly complements the musical heritage of the nearby Barbican Centre, home of the LSO and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.”

The resulting ‘drawing’ will be sculpted in three dimensions and will serve as a sort of signpost outside the station’s west entrance at Moorgate.


 
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