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Friday 8 Aug 2014

Henry Moore sculpture unveiled at King’s Cross Square

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Network Rail and the Henry Moore Foundation have today officially unveiled the first piece of public art to be exhibited at King’s Cross Square, the new public square in front of the redeveloped King’s Cross station.

Network Rail and the Henry Moore Foundation have today officially unveiled the first piece of public art to be exhibited at King’s Cross Square, the new public square in front of the redeveloped King’s Cross station.

 
The three-metre high bronze sculpture, dubbed ‘Large Spindle Piece’, was created in 1974 by Britain’s most famous sculptor, Henry Moore, and has been exhibited around the world as one of Moore’s most important monumental works.

The piece has been loaned to Network Rail to display in King’s Cross Square, serving as the gateway to the Henry Moore Foundation in Hertfordshire and the Henry Moore Institute in Yorkshire, both of which are accessible by train from King’s Cross station.

Richard Calvocoressi, director of the Henry Moore Foundation, said: “A Yorkshireman by birth, Henry Moore won a scholarship to the Royal College of Art in 1921 and lived in London until 1940 when he sought refuge from the Blitz in rural Hertfordshire.

“His drawings of people sheltering from air raids in the London Underground are considered one of his major achievements and in the post-war years his work was embraced by the city and placed in a range of public locations. Today his sculpture can be enjoyed at a number of sites in London, including outside Parliament, in Kensington Gardens and in dedicated galleries at Tate Britain.

“Moore set up his Foundation in order to make his work and that of other sculptors accessible to a wider public. We hope that the placing of ‘Large Spindle Piece’ at the magnificently redeveloped King’s Cross station will inspire more visitors to enjoy Moore’s work and indeed that of other sculptors, by embarking upon journeys to his former home in Hertfordshire and to Yorkshire.”

Phil Verster, Network Rail’s route managing director, said: “The redevelopment of King’s Cross station and the regeneration which continues in the surrounding area are fantastic examples of how investing in infrastructure stimulates economic growth.

“King’s Cross Square is a fantastic new public space which has been enjoyed by millions of people since it was opened last year. It provides locals and visitors with a stunning view of the station’s historic façade and highlights the amazing change that this part of London has undergone in recent years.

“We thank the Henry Moore Foundation for allowing us to showcase this beautiful sculpture.”

Councillor Abdul Hai, Cabinet member for Customers, Communities and Culture, said: “Camden has a long tradition of supporting public art and the sculpture is a nice reminder of Henry Moore’s time as an artist working in our borough in a studio in Belsize Park. This sculpture is a wonderful addition to our existing public art and will give pleasure to everyone who lives, works and travels through Camden.”

King’s Cross Square is big enough to accommodate Big Ben clock tower laid down lengthways. As well as offering an area dedicated to public art, the square provides passengers, local people and those now moving to work and study in the area a brand new open space as well as improved entrances to the London Underground, and a stunning lighting scheme to highlight the area’s architectural features.

The £550m redevelopment of King’s Cross station has helped to attract £2.2bn of private investment into a previously largely derelict and disused 67 acre site, including 2,000 new homes, 50 new buildings, 20 new streets, and 10 new public squares, and now caters for 45,000 people who live, work and study in the area.

The 75,000 sq ft public space was the final part of the redevelopment of King’s Cross station and follows the renovation of the original station building and its platforms and the construction of the spectacular new western concourse, which opened to passengers in March 2012. The demolition of the unloved 1970s concourse and the creation of King’s Cross Square in its place means the Grade One listed station’s full historic façade can be seen in all its glory for the first time for 150 years.