London Triumph Quadriga No. 1. Photograph - Limited Edition of 10

Photography: C-type on Aluminium. London Triumph Quadriga No. 1. Thousands of people pass by the Wellington Arch on London’s Hyde Park Corner every day, yet few give more than a glance to the giant quadriga standing proudly above it. The sculptor, Adrian Jones, a former army veterinary captain, specialised in animal figures and exhibited a magnificent plaster group at the Royal Academy entitled ‘Triumph’. The Prince of Wales was so impressed that he suggested that this quadriga would make a suitable adornment for the rebuilt Wellington Arch, and so it was commissioned. A banker and philanthropist, Sir Herbert Stern, donated £20,000 and in 1908 Jones set to work on the full size version in his Chelsea studio with Edward VII taking personal interest. The chariot of war features Nike, the winged Goddess of Victory. The intriguing figure of a boy driving the horses was in fact modelled on Stern’s ten year old son. The final bronze sculpture was unveiled in 1912. The statue is also notable in being the largest bronze sculpture in Europe. Statues are not only beautiful but carry with them stories. Classical statues were in a sense the feature films, the blockbusters, of their day at a time when books and paintings were a rare luxury of the privileged. On display for all to see, the unveiling of statues were major events and word of mouth passed on for generations who would travel to cities to see these wonders. The immortality of statues reflects our human aspirations. Today, although society have become oblivious to such statues they still retain a gravitas and eternal value. They may be taken for granted yet one would surely notice if they were removed. Could we ever dispose of them?.. I think not and that they are destined to become ever more valuable, yet around the world they stand ignored and exposed to the elements. My fascination is also in their symbolism. Most statues are embedded with allegorical meaning whilst the story of their creation always plays an important part in the final rendition. My artworks are about rediscovery, finding and exploring a new 21st century perspective. Taking something so essentially three dimensional and reinterpreting it in two dimensions required me to bring more than a single dimension to an image. Symmetry is significant in the original sculpture but there is no true symmetry in my work. As with the human face, perfect symmetry holds no beauty, and so I twist and balance my imagery in photomontage to create a harmony whilst retaining the compelling nature of a symmetrical first impression. I have embedded further depth into the final piece intending that they should be viewed from a distance, mid range or close up with entirely different effect. The satisfaction I felt when first creating the photomontages in this series reminded me of my childhood and treasured kaleidoscope. The toy kaleidoscope is a marvel as it enables a new and compelling perspective on something possibly familiar or ordinary. The first thing we do after looking at something through a kaleidoscope is to look again at the subject without the kaleidoscope, as if to rediscover the subject, and see it anew. This simple psychology is essential to my work… I endeavour to create images that demand more than a glance. Artworks are available as archival reverse prints onto aluminium of exceptional quality. I chose this medium for its metallic, polished and reflective nature, these are not simply printed photographs but instead an extension of the bronze statue itself, another immortal object.

Photography:Black & White on Aluminium

Artist Produced Limited Edition of:10

Size:39.4 W x 39.4 H x 2 D in

Delivery Time:Typically 5-7 business days for domestic shipments, 10-14 business days for international shipments.