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

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