Call to save 20th century public art after Paolozzi mosaic is removed

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/feb/03/public-art-paolozzi-mosaic-tottenham-court-road

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A leading conservation body has called for a “Domesday Book” survey of 20th century public art after Transport for London removed a section of a mosaic by Sir Eduardo Paolozzi as part of a tube station overhaul.

The 20th Century Society, which campaigns to protect the period’s design and architecture, says a national register would help to stop works being lost before their value is realised.

Paolozzi, who died in 2005 aged 81, was commissioned in the early 1980s to create colourful mosaics throughout Tottenham Court Road tube station. However, two crucial sections in entrance areas are under threat during a £400m revamp.

Related: How to protect our modern heritage | Letters: Roger Bowdler of English Heritage

A set of arches leading down to escalators has already been taken down, while a large piece in an entrance area is due to be removed. Henrietta Billings, the society’s senior conservation adviser, said the issue highlighted the need for a national art catalogue.

“In the past week, more than 7,500 people signed a petition calling for these mosaics to remain in place,” she said. “The response underlines how popular and important art of this type is.

“We hope this will focus the attention of English Heritage to undertake a proper, review of all 20th century public art.”

She said the arches that had been dismantled had been put into storage.

“They haven’t been trashed, but we don’t know their current condition or future location,” she said.

Transport for London says it has preserved most of Paolozzi’s works but the design of ticket halls and platforms were such that some pieces could not be saved.

Billings said the society had spoken with Transport for London before work started and was told that all sections were safe as they were integral to the redesign.

“With hindsight, we would have lobbied for them to be listed,” she said. “But we were given clear assurances that they were going to be looked after.”

David Gentleman, who created a series of murals for Charing Cross station in the mid-1970s, backed the idea of a register akin to the work by Sir John Betjeman and the Victorian Society in the 1950s and 60s to save Victorian architecture from the wrecking ball.

He said: “The Paolozzis are some of the best examples of works from an era now vanishing. Having a national register has become a necessity.

“If works by someone as well known as Eduardo Paolozzi, in such a prominent spot, can be lost, then now it must be time to make sure such works from this period are recorded and protected.”

Professor Robin Spencer, an art historian,said the mosaics’ worth would only increase with time.

“In 50 years, PhD students will be trying to reconstruct them,” he said. “The subject matter is incredible – it ranges from George Orwell’s 1984 through to 1980s computer imagery. We have a nationwide register of publicly owned paintings. The same needs to be done for pieces like this.”

London Underground’s capital programme director, David Waboso, said it had tried to preserve the works.

“As part of the upgrade, we have cleaned and are in the process of repairing the existing mosaics at the station, as well as reinstating panels that needed to be temporarily removed,” he said.

“We have made great efforts to plan for the retention and restoration of as many of the panels as possible.”

The redevelopment of the station has also led to the removal of Grade-II listed fountains, designed in 1963 by the artist Jupp Dernbach-Mayen.

Station designers said they were in the way of two new glass pyramids.

It is believed that they are being stored in a garage in Norfolk and are unlikely to return to their original setting.