British sculptor Antony Gormley has created an ‘inhabitable sculpture’ called ROOM for a hotel in London
The sculpture, the interior of which is a hotel suite, takes the form of a giant crouching figure on the facade of London’s new Beaumont Hotel and was unveiled at a press conference in London today (10 June 2014).
Photo: Stephen White
Speaking at the unveiling, Gormley said: ‘I take the body as our primary habitat. ROOM contrasts a visible exterior of a body formed from large rectangular masses with an inner experience. The interior of ROOM is only 4 metres square but 10 metres high: close at body level, but lofty and open above. Shutters over the window provide total blackout and very subliminal levels of light allow me to sculpt darkness itself. My ambition for this work is that it should confront the monumental with the most personal, intimate experience.’
As perhaps Britain’s best-loved working sculptor, Gormley’s successful projects include Angel of the North (1995-1998) and One & Other (2009) for the Fourth Plinth in London’s Trafalgar Square. He was awarded the Turner Prize in 1994, and was knighted in the New Year’s Honours list in 2014.
The Beaumont, in Brown Hart Gardens, Mayfair, is being developed by Grosvenor in partnership with Corbin & King Hotels. It is the first hotel that renowned restaurateurs Chris Corbin and Jeremy King will open in autumn 2014.
