London Gatwick unveiled two large-scale ‘urban sculptures’ designed to celebrate the ongoing expansion of its route network

• London Gatwick unveils two ultimate, urban sculptures by renowned artist, Zeus to inspire passengers and celebrate the airport’s expanded route network
• The sculptures depict New York’s Chrysler Building and Dubai’s Burj Al Arab celebrating the launch of Norwegian’s new services to New York and Emirates’ A380 flights to Dubai this year
• The new commissions expand the contemporary art collection at Gatwick Airport with around 7.5 million passengers expected to view the sculptures over the next two months

LONDON, 2014-8-21 — /Travel PR News/ — Ahead of the busy bank holiday weekend when around 425,000 passengers are expected to pass through its terminals, London Gatwick has unveiled two large-scale ‘urban sculptures’ designed to welcome and inspire passengers and celebrate the ongoing expansion of its route network.

At around two metres in height, the impressive sand sculptures depict New York’s Chrysler Building and Dubai’s Burj Al Arab and symbolise just two of the iconic landmarks that can be reached via Gatwick’s long-haul routes. Earlier this year, Emirates began operating one of its three daily services to Dubai from Gatwick using its A380 aircraft, while in July Norwegian launched direct flights to New York City from Gatwick on the Dreamliner.

Altogether, Gatwick Airport now serves over 200 destinations worldwide – more than any other UK airport – with 20% of passengers travelling to business destinations such as New York and Dubai. Gatwick has the largest domestic and European networks of any London airport and also serves over 40 long haul destinations from the US and Canada to China and Vietnam. In September, Gatwick will launch a new route to Jakarta with Garuda Indonesia.

The sculptures, which will be installed for two months at the airport, will be viewed by around 7.5 million passengers expected to pass through Gatwick’s terminals during the period. Insights gathered from Gatwick’s Airport Passenger Panel, an independent body set up to highlight potential improvements to the airport passenger experience, highlighted that UK airports needed more ‘heart and soul’. As a result, over the last few years Gatwick has invested in brightening its spaces and building its contemporary art collection.

In 2012, a 12-piece collection by the ‘godfather of British pop art’ Sir Peter Blake was installed across both Gatwick terminals offering passengers a warm, British welcome to the capital. Last year, ‘The People’s Monarch’ artwork was also installed, a single piece the size of a double decker bus, depicting the Queen but made up of 5,500 images of the people of South East England.

Spencer Sheen, Head of Retail at London Gatwick, said:

“Gatwick has invested over £1 billion in improving facilities and the airport experience in recent years. This transformation means more people and airlines than ever before are choosing to fly from Gatwick and many new routes are being opened. This latest addition to the airport’s collection of artwork, creatively brings to life that Gatwick is now a world-class airport, serving over 200 destinations across the globe for both leisure and business travellers.”

Zeus, the artist for the two new sculptures, said:

“I am delighted that these two urban sculptures will be exhibited at London Gatwick, the inspiration for which was taken from two of the flagship cities Gatwick flies to – New York and Dubai. Airports are symbols of modern metropolises like London, so what better place to display the works where millions of passengers can see them. My aim is to give people passing through Gatwick’s terminals a place to reflect before they travel and when they return home to London.”

Notes to Editors
• For time-lapse footage of the Chrysler sculpture being crafter click here
• For interviews with Zeus, please contact Jo Brooks at JBPR on job@jb-pr.com or on 07930 432508.
• For more information on ‘The People’s Monarch’ artwork at Gatwick click here
• For more information on Sir Peter Blake’s ‘London’ collection at Gatwick click here
• For more information about the Airport Passenger Panel click here

About the artistBorn Dean Zeus Colman, his middle name naturally became his tag. It could be seen across London throughout the 80s and, still in his teens, Zeus earned the reputation of being a prolific writer. His work caught the attention of many of the influential faces of hip-hop at the time, figures like Tim Westwood who commissioned him to create designs for one of the first hip-hop clubs, Spatz, in 1984.Through Westwood, Zeus also had the opportunity to work with the likes of Paul Oakenfold, making backdrops and posters for artists signed to his Def Jam label, including Dougie Fresh and Whizz Kid. When house music took off Zeus also received commissions from the warehouse clubs that sprung up around the capital, such as West World at the Brixton Academy. All these contacts served as an effective catalyst for his career, encouraging him to think beyond the limitations of spray paint and walls.Zeus has worked with numerous community centres throughout London, teaching young offenders graffiti techniques, and helping to establish the art form as an effective, positive outlet for the energies and creativity of teenagers. He was invited to teach Prince Charles how to spray paint as part of a Princes Trust initiative.

Zeus returned to college and secured a place at Chelsea College of Art to study for a degree in Fine Art, majoring in sculpture. This took his art into three-dimensional form, creating graffiti sculptures out of light wooden sheets.

Over the next decade interest in Zeus intensified. He was described as a 3D graffiti pioneer by The Face magazine and his work appeared at a variety of venues throughout the UK, including the Victoria & Albert museum as part of its StreetStyle exhibition.

For more information contact:

Gatwick Airport press office
t: + 44 (0) 1293 505000
e: gatwickmedia@gatwickairport.com

About London Gatwick
Gatwick Airport is the UK’s second largest airport and the most efficient single-runway airport in the world. It serves more than 200 destinations in 90 countries for more than 36 million passengers a year on short and long-haul point-to-point services. It is also a major economic driver for the South-East region, generating around 23,000 on-airport jobs and a further 13,000 jobs through related activities. The airport is 28 miles south of London with excellent public transport links, including the Gatwick Express. Gatwick Airport is owned by a group of international investment funds, of which Global Infrastructure Partners is the largest shareholder.In its December 2013 interim report, the Airports Commission included London Gatwick and Heathrow on its shortlist of potential locations for a new runway in the UK. Expansion at Gatwick will best meet the UK’s aviation needs for the future, can provide the greatest economic boost with the least environmental impact, and a new runway can be operational by 2025. For further information, see: www.gatwickobviously.com Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Gatwick_Airport

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