The tiled panel - seen in context in
TQ3589 : Blackhorse Road tube station - entrance hall - was commissioned by ART ON THE UNDERGROUND as part of a series called "Underline: Art & Music for the Victoria line" which “provides a critical lens to examine contemporary aesthetics and the hierarchies between applied and fine arts” (wot?)
Link .
The installation is by an "imagined design studio" Design Work Leisure (DWL - the logo can be seen on one of the tiles at the bottom right of the panel) which was established by artist Giles Round in 2015.
“DWL is a design office attempting to find a practical role within London Underground [keep trying, guys] …
“The company - part research facility, part lobby for change, aims to intervene into [sic] the fabric of the Victoria Line …
“Working towards design unity and reform, DWL will develop works for London Underground …
“The designs will be artworks that function with the intention of affecting [presumably ‘effecting’] change for both worker and passenger alike …
“DWL has the specific goal to produce objects that move beyond their function. This is understood to be as the common good …
“The resulting objects, implemented into [sic] the system will be for both worker and passenger to enjoy …
Link (
Archive Link ) .
Me neither ... all the words are English, but somehow the meaning escapes one.
In the admittedly short time that I was at Blackhorse Road tube station, not one of the other passengers appeared to even glance at the tiled panel, despite its overbearing size and gloomy colour scheme that are totally at odds with the original small mosaic tiles on the wall. Shame about all the distracting reflections, too; maybe a matt finish on the tiles would have been better than a shiny one? Sadly, I don’t think that the tiles live up to Underline’s claim to “offer extraordinary experiences, ignite curiosity and capture the attention of the Tube’s mass audience”.