Art on the Underground, transport for London’s ongoing scheme to present new artworks on the London Underground network, have revealed the latest, text-based, art works that will be attempting to enhance and enrich the journeys of millions of Tube travellers.
A series of striking and thought-provoking messages will appear across the London Underground (LU) network this week when artist Anna Barriball’s deceptively simple typographic artwork goes on display followed by a series of new works by artist Serena Korda, which will greet passengers alighting at Stanmore station on the Jubilee line from July 1.
For her work Barriball has selected a number of evocative phrases taken from the back of found photographs and printed them in London Underground’s classic New Johnston font as six black and white posters.
The texts are designed to adopt the distinct identity of the network, presenting domestic messages that work in an interesting contrast to the operational environment of the Tube.
Customers travelling on the Underground will see phrases such as ‘About 60 miles of beautiful views.’ or ‘On way to birthday party.’ or ‘Oh, boy, what a wonderful city!’ The pieces are typical of Barriball's work, which often steps between the parallel languages of drawing and sculpture.
“Anna’s project presents a subtle yet fascinating intervention into the environment of the Tube,” said Tamsin Dillon, Head of Art on the Underground. “It demonstrates the artist’s sensitive ability to explore the world through minimal gestures yet does so on a mass scale for a busy London Underground audience.”
Serena Korda working on her Library of Secrets project at Whitstable Biennale 2008. Photographer - Simon Steven. Image Courtesy of London Underground
Serena Korda’s work on the Jubilee Line takes as its starting point the area around Stanmore Station and its historic links with Britain’s World War Two code breakers at Bletchley Park, an outpost of which was housed at Stanmore in 1942. Korda’s work uses cryptic crosswords to explore the local area, the solutions of which act as alternative guides to Stanmore.
A series of heraldic banners presenting eight completed crosswords will adorn the main hall of the station. Passengers will be able to pick up a booklet of the puzzles at stations along the Jubilee line to complete as they travel on the Underground network.
Bletchley code breakers were famously recruited for their ability to solve The Daily Telegraph crossword in less than 12 minutes, and some of these veterans were amongst those who contributed their experiences to this project.
To produce the final work, Korda collaborated with setters Geoff Heath (aka ‘Aeronaut’) and Roy Dean (setter for The Times) and the self-titled Stanmore Puzzlers to compile the crosswords.
For more information about Art on the Underground see www.tfl.gov.uk/pfa
The Mansion, Bletchley Park, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK3 6EB, Buckinghamshire, England
T: 01908 640404
Open: Bletchley Park will be closed from 1st November 2005 through to 1st April 2006 to day visitors and tours. The Park will reopen on 1st April 2006 to visitors, and will be open every day through the summer, weekdays 09.30 – 5.00, weekends from 10.30 – 5.00.
