Foreign Exchange public art [9 photos] in SP0686

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Foreign Exchange public art

Foreign Exchange, is on display as part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival. This adaptation of the statue of Queen Victoria is by Guyanese-British artist, Hew Locke and has been commissioned by Ikon, and is on display from June to August 2022.

This art instillation is an adaptation of the statue of Queen Victoria which has been present in Victoria Square for more than a century. It was originally unveiled in 1901, this was a marble figure sculpted by Sir Thomas Brock and modelled on his statue of Victoria in front of the Shire Hall in Worcester SO8455 : Statue of Queen Victoria. In 1951, the present statue SP0686 : Statue of Queen Victoria in Victoria Square was cast in bronze by William Bloye and members of Birmingham School of Art.

Hew Locke’s work is the culmination of two decades of research and exploration into historic statues. At over seven meters high, ‘Foreign Exchange’ wraps around the Bloye statue of Queen Victoria. It depicts a boat carrying five smaller fibre-glass replica statues of Queen Victoria, reminiscent of Britannia, each figure wears a helmet. and a replica medal signifying an important battle in the history of the British Empire.

by Philip Halling

Created: Sun, 7 Aug 2022, Updated: Sun, 7 Aug 2022

9 images use this description: (all images taken in 2022)

SP0686 : Foreign Exchange in Victoria Square by Philip Halling

SP0686 : Foreign Exchange by Philip Halling

SP0686 : Foreign Exchange by Hew Locke by Philip Halling

SP0686 : Iron Man and 'Foreign Exchange' by Philip Halling

SP0686 : Iron Man in Victoria Square by Philip Halling

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