Platform for Art: Art on the Underground

by Alex Coles

Platform for Art began in 2000 as an extension to and to build upon London Underground's long history of commissioning high calibre art and design in every area of its corporate identity. This cultural heritage includes its station architecture, its signage (always in the Johnston typeface), the design of its posters (working with a wide range of artists and graphic designers such as Edward McKnight Kauffer and Man Ray), the famous round logo, the commission of art works as part of stations, such as Paolozzi's mosaic at Tottenham Court Road station, and the map designed by Harry Beck.
This book looks at the programme's development and is an opportunity to see and read more about a selected range of the projects it has produced over the past few years.
Alex Coles' essay examines specific projects including those by Chiho Aoshima, Beatriz Milhazes and Mark Titchner at Gloucester Road station, Lothar Gotz at Piccadilly Circus station, the images commissioned for the Tube map covers and some of the artworks produced for the Thin Cities series of projects on the Piccadilly line.
In addition, there are descriptions and images of many other art works that have been produced across the network so far. Both Coles and Tamsin Dillon, Head of the programme, consider how Platform for Art will continue to develop in the future.

172 pages, Paperback

First published January 16, 2007