| Big 4 | |
|---|---|
 The Big 4 sculpture outside the Channel 4 building in London in January 2016 | |
 | |
| Artist | Freestate (design) Atelier One (engineering) |
| Year | 2007; 18 years ago (2007) |
| Type | Statue |
| Medium | Steel bars |
| Subject | Channel 4 logo |
| Dimensions | 15 m (50 ft) |
| Location | London,SW1 United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 51°29′45.4″N0°7′58.6″W / 51.495944°N 0.132944°W /51.495944; -0.132944 |
TheBig 4 is a sculpture made of steel bars located outside the headquarters of theChannel Four Television Corporation inLondon. It is designed to represent the logo ofChannel 4 while providing a basis for a number of art installations. As of November 2012 seven installations have been made on the statue's steel framework, including those to coincide with the2012 Summer Paralympics, covered with both newsprint and umbrellas, and a design to simulate the statue breathing. A further dressing to celebrate the devolution of Channel 4 from London to a series of regionally-based offices, alongside the Horseferry Road HQ has recently been approved and will be erected later in 2019.
The design and construction of theBig 4 was a collaboration between Mike Smith Studio,Freestate andAtelier One, and was designed to show Channel 4's logo when the statue is correctly aligned, similar to how the logo formed in Channel 4's idents at the time. The statue itself is made out of steel bars, and the structure was fabricated by Mike Smith Studio. The intention was to allow other artists to use the framework of the statue for art installations.[1] The statue is located outside the headquarters ofChannel Four Television Corporation onHorseferry Road, London.[2] It was unveiled on 16 October 2007 byCulture MinisterMargaret Hodge,[3] to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Channel 4 and to coincide with the television seriesThe Big Art Project.[1][4]
During the course of the first year, four artists created installations for theBig 4. These were photographerNick Knight,Turner Prize shortlisted artistMark Titchner, sculptorEl Anatsui and a fourth artist chosen from an open competition for young arts graduates.[1] The first installation covered the statue in photographs of the inside of the human chest around the heart.[3] Titcher's take on theBig 4 was entitled "Find your world in ours, Find our world in yours", and incorporated a video booth installed at the base of the statue where members of the public could record their views on Channel 4 and broadcasting, which were then edited into a montage of footage which played over large screens on the outside of the statue.[5] The design byEl Anatsui wrapped theBig 4 in newsprint created from donated printing plates from a variety of newspapers and magazines includingCreative Review,The Independent and those ofTrinity Mirror.[4] Feedback on the installation was mixed, with praise coming from Mark Hooper ofThe Guardian, while commenters atCreative Review were mostly negative.[6]
Stephanie Imbeau won the competition for young art graduates. The work "Shelter" saw theBig 4 covered in hundreds of umbrellas for the concept of showing the value of an everyday object which is taken for granted.[5] A further competition was run for a designer for theBig 4, which was won byKingston University fashion design graduate Hannah Gourlay.[7][8] Her design covered the framework with a material which inflated and deflated in a manner to simulate breathing. The material itself came fromDartex Coatings, and is more commonly used to coverNHS bed mattresses. Electric fans drew air into theBig 4 and were then turned off, which allowed the tension in the fabric to push the air back out again.[8]
Prior to the2012 Summer Paralympics inLondon, theBig 4 was given a Paralympic theme to coincide with Channel 4's coverage of the Games. The "Monument to the Unintended Performer" was designed by Tony Heaton and meant to bring together three elements of the discus thrower based on the Greek sculpture "Discobolus", a circle to represent the international symbol of access and also the inclusion of the gold, silver and bronze colours as per the Paralympic medals.[2] It was first unveiled at an event attended by LordSebastian Coe, Chairman of the London Organising Committee for the Games,[2] and hosted by the Chief Executive of Channel 4,David Abraham.[7] Claire Watson created the final design for 2012, based on the theme ofThe Snowman and the Snowdog, which is due to be broadcast atChristmas on Channel 4.[9]Vocalism has been responsible for securing planning for the structure and all dressings throughout the duration of the project.
Media related toBig 4 (sculpture) at Wikimedia Commons