Positive Luxury | My Positive Life- Siobhan Doran | Positive Luxury

Positive Luxury | My Positive Life- Siobhan Doran | Positive Luxury

Paralympic installation on The Big 4, Channel 4's headquarters

The Big 4 captured as part of a shoot for Sheppard Robson at the Channel 4 building
designed by Richard Rogers

The Big 4 is a 50-foot-high metal '4' outside Channel 4’s Horseferry Road headquarters in London. It was originally constructed in 2007 to celebrate both the Channel's 25th anniversary year and the launch of the Big Art Project. The installation mirrors the Channel's on-air identity, with metal bars forming the logo only when viewed from a particular angle.Since its inception a variety of artists, both internationally renowned and emerging talent, have created ‘skins’ for the 4. Most recently a design tender was issued to established and emerging disabled artists, to come up with a design to celebrate Channel 4’s involvement and commitment to the Paralympics. 

Tony Heaton’s Monument to the Unintended Performer was created to celebrate Channel 4’s involvement and commitment to the Paralympics. It is made up from four elements. The Big 4 itself, a figurative element based on the classical Greek marble sculpture Discobolus by Myron, a wheel from the international symbol of access and the element of colour in the form of bronze, silver and gold. The sculpture is lit by neon during the day in the wheel and the discus, and additionally at night by spot lighting to accentuate the colours.

The design was installed on the Big 4, on behalf of Tony Heaton, by FreeState Ltd – working alongside sub-contractors Millimetre Ltd, Atelier One Ltd, Enliten Architectural Lighting, Syrett Neon International and Dalton Warner Davis LLP – Commercial Property & Town Planning Consultants.

The artists were all chosen by a panel of art and design experts who have included: Jan Younghusband (formerly Commissioning Editor, Arts and Performance, Channel 4); Brett Foraker (formerly Network Creative Director, Channel 4); Gus Casely-Hayford (formerly Executive Director, Arts Strategy, Arts Council); Michael Morris (Co-Director, Art Angel); Will Gompertz (formerly Director, Tate Media); Tim Marlow (Director of Exhibitions, White Cube Gallery); Rebecca Wilson, (Associate Director Saatchi Gallery); Maurice Blik, (Sculptor and fellow of the RSA); Ruth Mackenzie OBE, (Cultural Olympiad Director); Rufus Radcliffe (formerly Channel 4’s Controller of Marketing); Tabitha Jackson, (Channel 4’s Commissioning Editor, Arts), Tom Tagholm (formerly Head of 4Creative), Dan Brooke (Channel 4’s Director of Marketing & Communications), James Walker (Channel 4’s Acting Head of Marketing), Adam Scott, (Creative Director at FreeState) and Meredith Rowe (Big 4 Project Manager, FreeState).

For more information and past installations on the big 4 - see the link below http://www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/B/bigart/big4.html

How to become the next Big 4 artist »

More images in the Big 4 gallery »

Print sales are being prepared...

Bryony from AlacARTe removing exhibition vinyl

Now my exhibition is over, printing and framing has begun to fulfil all orders. My Savoy print at the Royal Academy has sold out however AP's and other sizes are available. For more information please get in touch. I look forward to answering your queries. Thanks! +44 7941 365645.

Exhibition closes tonight...

The good news for all those that invested in a print is that I will start the printing and framing process of all orders from next week. For additional or new print enquirys or private viewing contact siobhan@siobhandoran.com or call +447941365645

Exhibition Closes Tomorrow June 20th

It feels a little  sad to close the exhibition tomorrow evening at 6pm after a fantastic and successful week.  For anybody that would like to see the work on it's final day, please drop into the gallery at 81 Leonard Street as I will be in attendance all day -  Teas & Coffees served! 
For any enquiries  private views of the work after tomorrow, please contact me at siobhan@siobhandoran.com or +447941 365645. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all involved and all that visited the show!

Savoy | The Restoration Opening Night

 © Tilley Harris

It was a full house on Thursday evening with The Savoy pop up bar adding a little glitz to an already colourful evening. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody that came, for making it a very special occasion. The show continues until June 20th and I will be in the gallery until Wednesday at 6pm. For those that have expressed an interest to re-visit or for print sales please call 07941 365645 or email me at siobhan@siobhandoran.com or alacartearts@gmail.com. If you did not make it then we are open everyday from 10am to 6pm. Print Sales collections are on Thursday morning June 21st or as otherwise arranged. Have a wonderful weekend! If you would like to see some more Pics from the opening night; you can see them on alacARTe's Facebook page; Facebook.com/alacartearts

Savoy | The Restoration Exhibition, Preview 3 - 2 days to opening

I have just been informed that the artwork has arrived at the gallery - 81 Leonard Street. Can't wait to assist  Alacarte tomorrow with the hanging!

The image shown here is one of 34 pieces which will be exhibited.  Royal Suite, River View, The Savoy, January 2010. It was after work hours and the building was empty but for security and myself.  I was walking through half built rooms and this picture caught my eye. I stood and observed this majestic view while all I could hear were the faint sounds of car engines passing by. The Savoy’s Embankment location overlooking the Thames, with wonderful views of Cleopatra’s Needle and the Houses of Parliament, is unrivalled among London hotels. Richard D’Oyly Carte was lucky to acquire a plot of land facing Embankment Gardens, just south of the Savoy Theatre, and clever enough to realise the potential of the view by designing his new hotel with wide balconies that ran all along the riverfront. Although the balconies are long gone, the 2010 restoration has allowed the architects to ensure that windows on the river side maximise the iconic Thames views. D’Oyly Carte’s vision has been supplemented by the addition of the London Eye to the skyline, and the magnificent view at night-time when the city is illuminated.

For more information or to receive a Press Release please contact alacartearts@gmail.com

Savoy | The Restoration Exhibition, Preview 2 - 3 days to opening

I  get the same wondrous feeling when I see a print emerge from the printer, as I did when I  developed my negatives in the dark room. It has been a real privilege to do my own printing for this exhibition. It means, I can concentrate on every detail, which is very satisfying. After all, taking the photograph is one step but having the opportunity to see it through to printing and framing is a real joy.

The photograph seen here emerging from the printer; Thames Foyer, The Savoy, December 2009 was the turning point for the restoration. With the completion of the structural work and the removal of the internal scaffolding, natural light returned to the interior spaces. The Lower Thames Foyer was glowing like a stage under its grand new dome, which was flooding the space with beautiful daylight. There was an air of optimism to the site – although still a long way from completion, the feeling of being at the right side of the mountain was unanimous. The dark days were quite literally over. The visibility of the new design seemed to create a furore of excitement, and the opening date was confirmed. Once this date was set the hotel swarmed with the largest amount of workers it had seen throughout the whole program, and they worked day and night to meet their deadline.

For more information or to receive a Press Release please contact alacartearts@gmail.com

Savoy | The Restoration Exhibition, Preview 1 - 4 days to opening

Preparation for the exhibition is progressing well. Each day this week, one image will be previewed on my blog, accompanied by a short story about the photograph or in this case, the photographs.

The attached shows the 5th Floor River Suites captured in December 2007 whilst Bonhams conducted The Savoy Sale downstairs.

'Initially, I set to work during the Savoy Sale, the December 2007 auction staged by Bonhams at the hotel. I decided to photograph the nine River View suites stretching across the fifth floor during the two-day duration of this event. It was the only time that I could shoot these rooms, because prior to the auction they were fully booked. The Savoy’s fifth floor is its centre. Every room on that level has a spectacular river view offering a unique perspective. In each room, the desk and chair – which I repositioned to face the window – represented, to me, the people who have passed through the hotel during its 118-year history. The furniture was affixed with Bonhams’ auction tags, which signifies the present, while the view – displaying the River Thames, the Royal Festival Hall and the London Eye – grounds each image, establishing a sense of the hotel’s London presence and also symbolizing its future. So the sequence ponders the Savoy’s past and contemplates what is set to come.'

For more information or to receive a Press Release please contact alacartearts@gmail.com

Savoy | The Restoration Exhibition opens in under 7 days!

Preparation is on track; the framing will be complete this weekend, invites for the opening night have been posted. We are all very excited to start the hanging on Tuesday / Wednesday... From Thursday work from this series will be exhibiting in three locations in London! Royal Academy, 81 Leonard Street and as a finalist at the Fitzroy Place Open Air Gallery.... All at AlacARTe and Siobhan Doran Photography look forward to seeing you during the exhibition from June 14th to June 20th. For more information or if you require a Press Release, please contact alacartearts@gmail.com