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Greyworld at the Stock Exchange |
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The Queen is amused?!
The London Stock Exchange reopened its brand new headquarters in July 2004. Centrepiece of the open-plan building is ‘The Source’, an artwork specially produced by Greyworld, the group of artists who are also set to work on The Junction's public artwork 'Bins and Benches'.
The 21st Century answer to Wall Street’s famous bell (rung to commence and cease trading), 'The Source' is controlled electronically, each sphere moving independently, forming random shifting patterns or words, numbers and shapes fed in directly from the world’s markets and media. At the end of each day’s trading, they will indicate the state of the London market – up or down.
The opening of the Stock Exchange and initiation of The Source was performed by HM The Queen, Peter Archer of PA News commented;
“It was among the more bizarre occasions even for a monarch of 52 years standing. The Queen placed her gloved hand on an electronic ball and 729 spheres, suspended on metal cables, began to levitate.
A quizzical Duke of Edinburgh looked on as the white globes rose into the air and formed seemingly random patterns the height of London’s new Stock Exchange building.”
‘Bins and Benches’ will surely provoke a similar quizzical and amused response from the public, because in Greyworld’s vision, intelligent bins and benches will roam the new piazza in front of The Junction. In-built technology will allow them to respond to the needs of the humans that share their habitat. When it rains, the benches head for shelter. When the sun comes out they may burst into song. At night they move towards The Junction to provide seating for the queuing crowds or return to their power source for recharging.
Greyworld’s proposal captured the public imagination when 7 artists’ ideas were presented and publicised in September 2003. It proved hugely popular with public, Junction staff, user groups and local arts professionals. ‘Bins and Benches’ meets The Junction’s requirements by embracing new technology and taking public art far beyond familiar static sculptures. It also reflects The Junction’s commitment to make new art accessible not only within the venue but out in the community as well.
Andrew Shoben of Greyworld commented: “We are delighted to have been commissioned to create ‘Bins and Benches’. We hope our installation will capture both the energy and the innovation of the new Junction. Most of all though, we hope it will make people smile."
Click for a Scotsman review and an article on the artwork from the London Stock Exchange website.
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