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| Eduardo Paolozzi Tottenham Court Road mosaics to go to Edinburgh | Eduardo Paolozzi Tottenham Court Road mosaics to go to Edinburgh |
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| Eduardo Paolozzi’s celebrated mosaics at Tottenham Court Road underground station, which were removed earlier this year, have been saved from destruction and will be restored at the University of Edinburgh. | Eduardo Paolozzi’s celebrated mosaics at Tottenham Court Road underground station, which were removed earlier this year, have been saved from destruction and will be restored at the University of Edinburgh. |
| The decorative arches over the escalators were part of Paolozzi’s 1984 design scheme for the station, commissioned by London Regional Transport, the predecessor to Transport for London, in 1980. They were dismantled as part of the £400m Crossrail redevelopment of the site, leading to a public outcry and an online petition signed by more than 8,000 people. | The decorative arches over the escalators were part of Paolozzi’s 1984 design scheme for the station, commissioned by London Regional Transport, the predecessor to Transport for London, in 1980. They were dismantled as part of the £400m Crossrail redevelopment of the site, leading to a public outcry and an online petition signed by more than 8,000 people. |
| The London-based Twentieth Century Society campaign group said it was behind this week’s move to restore the work at Edinburgh University, which is already home to about 150 pieces by the artist. The mosaics will be reconstructed over the next few years at the Edinburgh College of Art – where Paolozzi studied in 1943 and later became a visiting professor – before going on public display. | The London-based Twentieth Century Society campaign group said it was behind this week’s move to restore the work at Edinburgh University, which is already home to about 150 pieces by the artist. The mosaics will be reconstructed over the next few years at the Edinburgh College of Art – where Paolozzi studied in 1943 and later became a visiting professor – before going on public display. |
| Related: Call to save 20th century public art after Paolozzi mosaic is removed | Related: Call to save 20th century public art after Paolozzi mosaic is removed |
| Neil Lebeter, Edinburgh University’s art collections curator, said in a statement: “The mosaics will be a very important addition to our art collection. | Neil Lebeter, Edinburgh University’s art collections curator, said in a statement: “The mosaics will be a very important addition to our art collection. |
| “We expect the murals to become an important part of the campus – a major draw for students and the wider public. The possibilities for creative engagement through this project are hugely exciting.” | “We expect the murals to become an important part of the campus – a major draw for students and the wider public. The possibilities for creative engagement through this project are hugely exciting.” |
| Henrietta Billings, the Twentieth Century Society’s senior conservation adviser, said it was great to see the Paolozzi mosaics given a new lease of life, although the society would have preferred to see the arches remain at Tottenham Court Road, where they had formed part of a scheme throughout the station. | Henrietta Billings, the Twentieth Century Society’s senior conservation adviser, said it was great to see the Paolozzi mosaics given a new lease of life, although the society would have preferred to see the arches remain at Tottenham Court Road, where they had formed part of a scheme throughout the station. |
| She said: “They could have been integrated into the upgrade scheme for the station had this been a desired objective from the outset, but this was not pursued. | She said: “They could have been integrated into the upgrade scheme for the station had this been a desired objective from the outset, but this was not pursued. |
| “However, we are very pleased that they will once again be on public display and re-erected as a major conservation project and celebration of Paolozzi’s work. The processes developed will also inform the future conservation of other works of postwar public art, many of which remain at risk.” | “However, we are very pleased that they will once again be on public display and re-erected as a major conservation project and celebration of Paolozzi’s work. The processes developed will also inform the future conservation of other works of postwar public art, many of which remain at risk.” |
| Eleanor Pinfield, the head of art on the underground, told the Art Newspaper that about 95% of Paolozzi’s mosaics installed at Tottenham Court Road station will be retained. She said: “In specific areas affected by works on the Northern and Central line platforms, the original mosaics have been removed and are being replaced to the original designs with the highest standard of care. | Eleanor Pinfield, the head of art on the underground, told the Art Newspaper that about 95% of Paolozzi’s mosaics installed at Tottenham Court Road station will be retained. She said: “In specific areas affected by works on the Northern and Central line platforms, the original mosaics have been removed and are being replaced to the original designs with the highest standard of care. |
| “Where possible, original tiles have been reused. When new tiles have been required, there has been a meticulous colour-matching process with the oversight of the Paolozzi Foundation.” | “Where possible, original tiles have been reused. When new tiles have been required, there has been a meticulous colour-matching process with the oversight of the Paolozzi Foundation.” |
| The mosaics in corridors between platforms and sections of the rotunda area of the station have been undisturbed, but are being cleaned, while the large mosaic by the former exit on to Oxford Street will be removed, restored and installed in the lower area of the station by late 2016, Pinfield said. | The mosaics in corridors between platforms and sections of the rotunda area of the station have been undisturbed, but are being cleaned, while the large mosaic by the former exit on to Oxford Street will be removed, restored and installed in the lower area of the station by late 2016, Pinfield said. |
| Other new additions to the station include works by Douglas Gordon, Richard Wright and Daniel Buren. | Other new additions to the station include works by Douglas Gordon, Richard Wright and Daniel Buren. |
| Paolozzi, who died at the age of 81 in April 2005, grew up in Leith, Edinburgh, and was one of Britain’s most prolific 20th-century artists and sculptors. He was knighted in 1989, was a Royal academician and her Majesty’s sculptor in ordinary for Scotland. |