If you are in Piccadilly between now and 31 August, prepare to be wowed by the fabulous Piccadilly Art Takeover. Vibrant artworks, including 30 overhead banners, 13 painted crossings and trailers, culminating in a film presentation at the end of August (shown on the iconic Piccadilly Lights screens), have been created by five Royal Academy artists.
Michael Armitage, Farshid Moussavi OBE RA and Yinka Shonibare CBE RA have created the banners; the artists have their own unique styles and preferences of mediums which creates a harmonious contrast.
Vanessa Jackson RA has created all 13 crossings using the medium of Decomark which will not fade. Entitling her work Up Town Dancing, she explains: “…there’s an interaction in the colours and forms. I was trying to be a little bit electric and to keep it animated because I like to dance, and experience is an animated thing. I think this takeover will be great fun for everybody, and personally I’m looking forward to people not just walking across my pavements – like Abbey Road – but actually, I hope they’ll be dancing.”
Filmmaker Isaac Julien CBE RA has created Lessons of the Hour – the trailers will run on Piccadilly’s iconic screens for the course of six weeks and the 30 minute film will be shown at the end of the exhibition. By scanning a QR code at any time during the exhibition period, you can access Julien’s work as an augmented reality screening through your mobile device.
This spectacular display is the largest art takeover the capital has ever seen; here’s hoping for many more in the future!