Public commission/installation
Joel Shapiro
23 Savile Row
23 Savile Row
London, England
Installed:
16 Nov 2008
artist profile
We are delighted to announce the recent installation of an extraordinary new suspended
bronze sculpture by Joel Shapiro at 23 Savile Row, London, England.
Eric Parry Architects was commissioned to redevelop the Savile Row site, which included the demolition of the 1950s Fortress House and the design of a sustainable mixed-use
building. The building is arranged as two wings that flank a recessed central section.
The quality and detail of the building, with its finely articulated façade, was in response
to its location within a conservation area of London's historic West End.
A critical aspect of the redevelopment was the commission of a sculpture by Joel
Shapiro for the recessed central area. Created over a five-year period, the sculpture,
titled Verge, 2003 - 2008, is made of bronze and measures approximately 16 x 14 x 16
feet (4.8 x 4.3 x 4.8 meters). Suspended by stainless steel cables and flanked by the
building on three sides, Vergeseems to float effortlessly above the street.
The Savile Row sculpture closely relates to a site-specific work that Joel created five
years ago for L.A. Louver's Skyroom. Titled 4 elements, 2003, this dynamic suspended
form was exhibited at the gallery January 16 - February 21 2004.
Selected article
Merrick, Jay. "Observations: Savile Row does it with style,
but Hermès is just horrible"
The Independent, 5 December 2008
full article, PDF
Video
Joel Shapiro, 4 elements, installed at L.A. Louver
January - February 2004
We are delighted to announce the recent installation of an extraordinary new suspended
bronze sculpture by Joel Shapiro at 23 Savile Row, London, England.
Eric Parry Architects was commissioned to redevelop the Savile Row site, which included the demolition of the 1950s Fortress House and the design of a sustainable mixed-use
building. The building is arranged as two wings that flank a recessed central section.
The quality and detail of the building, with its finely articulated façade, was in response
to its location within a conservation area of London's historic West End.
A critical aspect of the redevelopment was the commission of a sculpture by Joel
Shapiro for the recessed central area. Created over a five-year period, the sculpture,
titled Verge, 2003 - 2008, is made of bronze and measures approximately 16 x 14 x 16
feet (4.8 x 4.3 x 4.8 meters). Suspended by stainless steel cables and flanked by the
building on three sides, Vergeseems to float effortlessly above the street.
The Savile Row sculpture closely relates to a site-specific work that Joel created five
years ago for L.A. Louver's Skyroom. Titled 4 elements, 2003, this dynamic suspended
form was exhibited at the gallery January 16 - February 21 2004.
