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The Slide was created in 2016 by artist Carsten Höller at the invitation of Anish Kapoor, designer ofArcelorMittal Orbit. At 178 metres long, it is the world’s tallest and longest tunnel slide and offers a 40-second descent, 12 twists and turns, and speeds of up to 24km/h.The Slide winds its way throughArcelorMittal Orbit (the UK’s tallest sculpture) and, through the transparent sections of its structure, offers glimpses of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and London’s skyline before plunging visitors into darkness. It is a permanent installation that offers an unforgettable and exhilarating experience and, as Höller notes, ‘it’s virtually impossible to go down a slide without smiling’.
For more information and to pre-book tickets (advised during busy periods), visit the official ArcelorMittal Orbit website.
Carsten Höller (b. 1961 in Brussels to German parents) holds a doctorate in agricultural science from the University of Kiel in Germany (1985-92), where he specialised in the olfactory communication strategies of insects. He began making art in the late 1980s and in 1993 was invited to take part in the Aperto show at the Venice Biennale. He applies his training as a scientist to his work as an artist, concentrating on the nature of human relationships and the intersection of art, science and play. His works have included slides, carousels, animals, revolving doors and giant mushrooms, frequently inviting active participation. Major solo exhibitions includeSoma, Hamburger Bahnhof, Berlin (2010),Experience New Museum, New York (2011) andDoubt,Pirelli HangarBicocca, 2016. With major installations such asTest Site (2006), a series of giant slides installed in Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall,Two Flying Machines (2015) at Henie Onstad Kunstsenter, Oslo (2017), a work in which viewers are strapped into a harness and hoisted through the air,Decision Tubes (2019), mesh tunnel walkways suspended in the atrium at Museo Tamayo, Mexico City. Höller’s most recent exhibition in the UK was the critically acclaimedDecision at the Hayward Gallery in 2015. He represented Sweden with Miriam Backström at the 51st Venice Biennale in 2005 and has collaborated with the Fondazione Prada on a number of occasions. Höller lives and works in Stockholm and Biriwa, Ghana.
Image: Frank Da Silva
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