Mark Titchner
Nick Knight
To celebrate both Channel 4's 25th anniversary and the launch of the Big Art Project, last October a 50-foot-high metal '4' was constructed on the steps of the Channel's headquarters in Horseferry Road, London SW1. Channel 4 and a panel of arts experts invited three different artists to customise the commission over a period of 12 months starting with photographer Nick Knight whose 'Heart' - the 4 logo clad by torsos that appeared to be breathing - was on view in the autumn of last year. The second commission by Turner Prize nominee Mark Titchner was unveiled earlier this month. The third commission will be by the Ghanaian artist El Anatsui, and the fourth will go to the winner of a new competition for Saatchi Online and STUART artists who graduated from a UK art school or university in 2006 or 2007.
THE BIG 4 COMPETITION FOR SAATCHI ONLINE AND STUART 2006 OR 2007 GRADUATES
The competition is open to Saatchi Online and STUART artists who graduated from a BA, MA or other post-graduate fine art course at a UK art school or university in 2006 or 2007. You do not have to hold a British passport but you must have studied at a UK art school, college or university and graduated in 2006 or 2007. Please do NOT enter the competition if this does not apply to you. All entries will be checked with the institution you declare you graduated from.
All applications to the competition will be made on Saatchi Online - a dedicated Big 4 Prize site is now live.
Your applications must carefully take into consideration the 50-foot-high metal '4' which has been constructed on the steps of Channel 4's headquarters in Horseferry Road, London SW1. Your proposal will need to work with this pre-existing structure. To give you some ideas, Nick Knight clad the huge '4' logo with images of torsos that appeared to be breathing. Mark Titchner's commission has incorporated a video booth into the structure to give viewers an opportunity to comment on Channel 4 and broadcasters generally. The video booth sits within the Big 4 sculpture to capture people's thoughts and opinions. Edited footage of the material is then played back via large screens on the structure.
You may want to visit Channel 4's headquarters on Horseferry Road, London SW1, before uploading your application.
YOUR APPLICATION
Each eligible Saatchi Online or STUART graduate will be able to make one application only. The application will consist of the following:
1. No more than 300 words about the work of art you would like to make to go outside Channel 4's headquarters - bearing in mind that you MUST propose a project which incorporates the pre-existing 50-foot '4' logo.
2. No more than 4 images relating to your project. These can be drawings, photographs of models/maquettes of your proposed project or any other images you feel are relevant to conveying the work you'd like to make.
3. No more than 6 images of work you have made since graduating in 2006 or 2007.
4. Information about the UK college, art school or university you attended, the degree that you took (BA, MA or another post-graduate course).
5. Information about where you where born, where you now live and your age.
6. A photo of yourself.
The Big 4 is part of The Big Art Project, a new series due to be broadcast later this year. It will offer a candid account of the successes and pitfalls on the journey towards achieving new public art works. The programme also investigates the broader debate surrounding national art - from the value of art in the built environment to the motivations and expectations when commissioning public art. In the series luminaries including Antony Gormley and Tracey Emin discuss contemporary art and its impact on communities.
The Arts Council England and The Art Fund are the lead partners in Big Art, committing a total of £1 million. Other funding bodies, including Creative Partnerships, The Northern Way and Arts and Business, have committed a further £1 million towards new work.
About the Big 4
• The structure is designed by Freestate, in conjunction with award-winning engineers, Atelier One and was constructed by Mike Smith Studio.
• The artists have been invited to design interpretations for the Big 4 by a selection committee which comprises: Jan Younghusband - Channel 4 Commissioning Editor, Arts & Performance; Brett Foraker - Network Creative Director, Channel 4; Gus Casely-Hayford - Executive Director, Arts Strategy, Arts Council; Michael Morris - Co-Director, Artangel; Will Gompertz - Director, Tate Media and Tim Marlow - Director of Exhibitions, White Cube Gallery.
See also www.channel4.com/bigart
)
)
)