Big 4(sculpture)
| Big 4 | |
|---|---|
 The Big 4 sculpture outside the Channel 4 building in London in January 2016 | |
| Artist | Freestate(design) Atelier One(engineering) |
| Year | 2007 |
| Type | Statue |
| Medium | Steel bars |
| Subject | Channel 4logo |
| Dimensions | 15 m (50 ft) |
| Location | London,SW1 United Kingdom |
| 51°29′45.4″N0°7′58.6″W/ 51.495944°N 0.132944°W | |
TheBig 4is a sculpture made of steel bars located outside the headquarters of theChannel Four Television CorporationinLondon.It is designed to represent the logo ofChannel 4while providing a basis for a number of art installations. As of November 2012 seven installations have been made on the statue's steel framework, including those to coincide with the2012 Summer Paralympics,covered with both newsprint and umbrellas, and a design to simulate the statue breathing. A further dressing to celebrate the devolution of Channel 4 from London to a series of regionally-based offices, alongside the Horseferry Road HQ has recently been approved and will be erected later in 2019.
Design and construction
[edit]The design and construction of theBig 4was a collaboration between Mike Smith Studio,FreestateandAtelier One,and was designed to show Channel 4's logo when the statue is correctly aligned, similar to how the logo formed in Channel 4's idents at the time. The statue itself is made out of steel bars, and the structure was fabricated by Mike Smith Studio. The intention was to allow other artists to use the framework of the statue for art installations.[1]The statue is located outside the headquarters ofChannel Four Television CorporationonHorseferry Road,London.[2]It was unveiled on 16 October 2007 byCulture MinisterMargaret Hodge,[3]to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Channel 4 and to coincide with the television seriesThe Big Art Project.[1][4]
Art installations
[edit]
During the course of the first year, four artists created installations for theBig 4.These were photographerNick Knight,Turner Prizeshortlisted artistMark Titchner,sculptorEl Anatsuiand a fourth artist chosen from an open competition for young arts graduates.[1]The first installation covered the statue in photographs of the inside of the human chest around the heart.[3]Titcher's take on theBig 4was entitled "Find your world in ours, Find our world in yours", and incorporated a video booth installed at the base of the statue where members of the public could record their views on Channel 4 and broadcasting, which were then edited into a montage of footage which played over large screens on the outside of the statue.[5]The design byEl Anatsuiwrapped theBig 4in newsprint created from donated printing plates from a variety of newspapers and magazines includingCreative Review,The Independentand those ofTrinity Mirror.[4]Feedback on the installation was mixed, with praise coming from Mark Hooper ofThe Guardian,while commenters atCreative Reviewwere mostly negative.[6]
Stephanie Imbeau won the competition for young art graduates. The work "Shelter" saw theBig 4covered in hundreds of umbrellas for the concept of showing the value of an everyday object which is taken for granted.[5]A further competition was run for a designer for theBig 4,which was won byKingston Universityfashion design graduate Hannah Gourlay.[7][8]Her design covered the framework with a material which inflated and deflated in a manner to simulate breathing. The material itself came fromDartex Coatings,and is more commonly used to coverNHSbed mattresses. Electric fans drew air into theBig 4and were then turned off, which allowed the tension in the fabric to push the air back out again.[8]
Prior to the2012 Summer ParalympicsinLondon,theBig 4was given a Paralympic theme to coincide with Channel 4's coverage of the Games. The "Monument to the Unintended Performer" was designed by Tony Heaton and meant to bring together three elements of the discus thrower based on the Greek sculpture "Discobolus",a circle to represent the international symbol of access and also the inclusion of the gold, silver and bronze colours as per the Paralympic medals.[2]It was first unveiled at an event attended by LordSebastian Coe,Chairman of the London Organising Committee for the Games,[2]and hosted by the Chief Executive of Channel 4,David Abraham.[7]Claire Watson created the final design for 2012, based on the theme ofThe Snowman and the Snowdog,which is due to be broadcast atChristmason Channel 4.[9]Vocalismhas been responsible for securing planning for the structure and all dressings throughout the duration of the project.
Gallery
[edit]-
Stephanie Imbeau's "Shelter" -
Tony Heaton's "Monument to the Unintended Performer", during the2012 Paralympic Games -
The installation on theBig 4by Hannah Gourlay -
The Snowman and the Snowdogthemed installation -
TheBig 4sculpture inPride coloursduring the2014 Winter Paralympics
References
[edit]- ^abcBurgoyne, Patrick (8 October 2007)."Nick Knight First To Tackle Big 4".Creative Review.Archived fromthe originalon 2 December 2012.Retrieved29 November2012.
- ^abc"Tony Heaton Becomes Latest Channel 4 'Big 4' Artist".Shape Arts.org.uk. Archived fromthe originalon 18 June 2012.Retrieved29 November2012.
- ^ab"Channel 4 Promotes Its Big Art Project With A Big 4 Sculpture".Culture 24.16 October 2007.Retrieved29 November2012.
- ^abBurgoyne, Patrick (21 May 2008)."A Little Bit Of CR At C4".Creative Review.Archived fromthe originalon 2 December 2012.Retrieved29 November2012.
- ^ab"Mark Titchner's Big 4 Sculpture Unveiled At Channel 4 HQ In London".Culture 24.4 February 2008.Retrieved29 November2012.
- ^Hooper, Mark (29 May 2008)."Catch of the day: Channel 4's 'Big 4'".The Guardian.Retrieved29 November2012.
- ^ab"News: Channel 4 unveils new 'Big 4' installation".Disability Arts Online.1 June 2012.Retrieved29 November2012.
- ^abWilliams, Eliza (24 January 2011)."The Big 4 Breathes".Creative Review.Archived fromthe originalon 2 December 2012.Retrieved29 November2012.
- ^"Claire Watson".Channel 4.Retrieved29 November2012.
External links
[edit]
Media related toBig 4 (sculpture)at Wikimedia Commons- Video of the construction of theBig 4
