Slipstream (sculpture)

{{Short description|2014 sculpture by Richard Wilson}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox artwork

| title = Slipstream

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| image = Slipstream (2014) by Richard Wilson, London Heathrow Terminal 2, UK - 20150621-01.jpg

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| artist = Richard Wilson

| year = {{start date|2014}}

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| length_metric = 70

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| weight = 77 tonnes

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| museum = Heathrow Airport

| city = London

| coordinates = {{coord|51.4697|N|0.4497|W|source:wikidata|display=title, inline}}

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Slipstream is a sculpture by Richard Wilson, created in 2014 for the wholly re-built Terminal 2 at Heathrow Airport, London.{{cite book |editor1-last=Cole |editor-first1=Ina |title=“From the Sculptor’s Studio”, conversation with Richard Wilson, held in 2019 |year=2021 |publisher=Laurence King Publishing Ltd |page=256-269|isbn=9781913947590 |oclc=1420954826}} The large art intervention of aviation relevance was loosely specified, approved and project managed by Mark Davy, founder of the cultural and place-making agency Futurecity for the airport as owner. It is currently the largest privately funded sculpture for a commercial site in Europe.{{cite news |last=Siegle |first=Lucy |date=21 September 2013 |title=Giant vapour trail sculpture takes shape at Heathrow |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-24176450 |newspaper=BBC News |access-date=21 September 2016}} The winning proposal was selected from a shortlist of five international artists.

The sculpture is over {{convert|70|m}} long and weighs {{convert|77|t}}.{{cite web|url=http://mediacentre.heathrowairport.com/Press-releases/Twice-world-champion-stunt-pilot-Paul-Bonhomme-recreates-the-tumble-of-Richard-Wilson-s-Slipstream-5b9.aspx|title=Twice world champion stunt pilot Paul Bonhomme recreates the tumble of Richard Wilson's Slipstream}} The structural engineers Price & Myers and specialist fabricators Commercial Systems International (CSI) were tasked with making the sculpture.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18145268|title=Richard Wilson sculpture to dominate Heathrow's Terminal 2|work=BBC News |date=21 May 2012 }}

Wilson's intention is "to transpose the thrill of the air‐show to the architectural environment of the international air terminal".{{cite web|url=https://www.richardwilsonsculptor.com/sculpture/slipstream-2014.html|title=Slipstream}}

Reconstruction of Terminal 2 started in 2010, and it was officially reopened on 4 June 2014. The sculpture received the 2014 Marsh Award for Excellence in Public Sculpture.{{Cite web |title=Marsh Award for Excellence in Public Sculpture |url=https://www.marshcharitabletrust.org/award/marsh-award-for-excellence-in-public-sculpture/ |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=Marsh Charitable Trust}}

References

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{{Public art in London|other works}}

{{Portal bar|London|Visual arts}}

Category:Sculptures in London

Category:Heathrow Airport

Category:Aviation art

{{London-stub}}

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