London City Airport is to select an East London artist for a new commission that will welcome international visitors to London.
Aiming to create an impactful first impression, the installation will encapsulate the spirit of London as an international center of art and culture and will celebrate the airport as a key gateway into this cosmopolitan metropolis.
The commission, titled Destination London, will be curated by The Line, East London’s public art walk running between the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and The O2 venue. It follows the waterways and the line of the Meridian – connecting Greenwich, Tower Hamlets and Newham – and features an evolving program of art installations, events and landmarks.
In 2020, The Line will celebrate its fifth anniversary with several new installations and commissions, of which Destination London is the first to be announced. A panel comprising local stakeholders and The Line’s Co-Founder and Director, Megan Piper, will select the artist from among East London’s diverse community of artistic talent.
Robert Sinclair, CEO of London City Airport, said, “With London’s doors firmly open to international visitors, we want to welcome passengers to our airport, and our city, with an amazing first impression that they won’t forget. Working in partnership with The Line, we think we have an opportunity to create a welcome unlike any other airport, using our walls as a blank canvas to evoke the unique elements of East London.”
The commission, which is scheduled to open in spring 2020, is supported by the Mayor of London and Royal Docks Team and supports the #LondonIsOpen campaign.