 A giant mural depicting space age images has been unveiled at Byker Metro station on Friday, 8 December, at 1pm. The 10-metre wide work of art by UK urban artists Neasden Control Centre, represents the final part of Nexus’ involvement in BALTIC’s Spank The Monkey exhibition. The artist himself will be at Byker Metro to meet local residents and talk about the futuristic mural, Cipher Saturn 9. Byker Metro has been the home for a series of temporary giant artworks created by local residents, refugees staying in Newcastle and internationally-known artists over the last two years. Most recently Nexus has offered the mural space in the ticket concourse to artists commissioned by BALTIC for Spank The Monkey. Andy Bairstow, Communications Director for Nexus, said: “Byker Metro has been home to one of North East England’s most innovative new art programmes. This 10 metre space has staged a diversity of work by professional and amateur artists seen by thousands of Metro passengers. “Our collaboration with BALTIC has allowed us to extend the programme to international urban artists here and elsewhere on Metro.” Describing Cipher Saturn 9 Neasden Control Centre said: “This walls roots are explored from 1970s architecture and planning to encrypt a strange temporary transplanted landscape onto this plot at Byker Metro station.” The work, which replaces a piece by Chicago-based Dzine, will remain in place until at least January 28. Peter Doroshenko, BALTIC Director says: “Spank the Monkey has proved to be a hugely popular exhibition both inside BALTIC and on the streets of Newcastle-Gateshead. “In providing sites for a fantastic array of offsite works by internationally renowned urban artists, Nexus have enabled us to reach new audiences outside the gallery setting. We are proud to announce these new works by Shepard Fairey as the latest addition to this exciting programme.” Nexus offered to take part in Spank The Monkey as part of its Art in Public Transport programme, which over 30 years has commissioned a wide range of temporary and permanent artworks on Metro, at bus interchanges, ferry landings and beyond. BALTIC commissioned artists from all over the world to work on Metro as an extension of the exhibition at the Gateshead gallery. Existing Spank The Monkey works on Metro until January include: - Mini murals by Space Invader at Gateshead Interchange, complementing those elsewhere in Newcastle and Gateshead.
- Two 20-metre long sequences of work in the empty platform spaces at Jesmond station. On the side heading towards Gosforth there are works by Faile (two artists from New York) and Shepard Fairey of Los Angeles, and UK artist Neasden Control Centre. On the side heading towards Haymarket are works by Os Gemeos (twin brothers from Brazil) and Barry McGee (San Francisco).
- Howdon station underpass has been painted with a further installation, collaboration between Os Gemeos and Barry McGee.
- Poster art above staircases at Four Lane Ends, Heworth and Regent Centre stations by Shepard Fairey.
Spank The Monkey runs at BALTIC until January 7, with the work on Metro scheduled to come down during January.
|
