I spotted this large bronze statue, in the centre of a roundabout, outside London City Airport and was immediately struck by its size. Unfortunately, as it was a cloudy day, I couldn't get a photo with the sun lighting up the silver coating that covers this giant bronze statue.
Standing at 12 metres (39 feet), it has to be one of the tallest bronze statues that I have ever seen. In fact, it is the tallest bronze statue in the United Kingdom.
Newham Council's Strategic Development Committee were the ones who commissioned the statue, stating:
“London Athena will face east towards the airport and its approach road with her head looking up at the sky and her arms outstretched about her as if greeting or waving to aircraft in and out of the airport.”
Nasser Azam, who designed 'The Dance' on the South Bank, was commissioned to design the figure and it was unveiled in 2012.
Athena is the Greek Goddess of war, handicraft and practical reason.
London City Airport objected to the statue, who had requested to use the roundabout for signage and advertising related to the airport. They lost their objection, which I am glad about as this statue is definitely an improvement for the area.
Nasser Azam, who was originally from Newham, had the bronze cast at his foundry, Zahra Modern Art Foundries, which he had purchased in 2010. This foundry, originally called the Morris Singer Art Foundry, was the one that cast the Trafalgar Square Lions.
Because of the finish, applied to the statue, many people forget that it is made of bronze.
A small disc states:
"Athena
by
Nasser Azam
bronze
2012
with the support of
Elan Corporation, plc"
Not heard of this sculpture before. Bet it's quite stunning.
ReplyDeleteIt is an impressive statue, especially when the sun is shining.
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