Mark Wallinger art installation
Chiswick House – British Summer Time
Client
Mark Wallinger art installation
Date
April 2024
Services:
- Commercial & Retail Signage
- Digital Print
- Standard Signage
Our team was tasked with designing, manufacturing, and installing a comprehensive exterior signage solution that would not only stand out but also align with Headlam’s brand identity.
The Challenge
The task involved creating a large-scale analemmatic sundial, precisely calibrated to the coordinates of Chiswick House Exedra. This required extensive research into suitable materials, complex site measurements, and a meticulous installation process. The artwork needed to be both scientifically accurate and artistically resonant, embodying the theme of British summer.
Our Solution
From the outset, Links Signs worked closely with Mark Wallinger and the team at Chiswick House, advising on the best materials to bring the sundial to life. The sundial was laid out as a vast ellipse, measuring approximately 20m by 7m, with stone spheres representing the hours of the day. Each sphere, weighing 20kg, was securely anchored with steel rods and heavy-duty plates embedded in the grass.
Visitors interact with British Summer Time by standing on a central stone platform marked with the months of the year. When standing on the current month, their shadow indicates the correct time of day, integrating them into the Earth’s daily and annual cycles. The installation also features a musical box that plays a familiar waltz every hour, accompanied by bubbles that drift into the air, symbolizing the fleeting nature of time and the ephemeral beauty of summer.
Execution
The installation presented several challenges, particularly the need for precise measurements and alignment to ensure the sundial’s accuracy. The project required extensive mathematical calculations and careful on-site adjustments by a dedicated team of four from Links Signs. The coordination between artistic vision and technical execution was paramount to achieving the desired outcome.
Execution
The installation presented several challenges, particularly the need for precise measurements and alignment to ensure the sundial’s accuracy. The project required extensive mathematical calculations and careful on-site adjustments by a dedicated team of four from Links Signs. The coordination between artistic vision and technical execution was paramount to achieving the desired outcome.
“Links Signs were honoured to be asked to work on another public art project with Mark Wallinger and the great team at Chiswick House. We have had the pleasure of working with Mark before on the iconic Labyrinth project on the London Underground in 2013, and we jumped at the opportunity to sponsor this project for him at Chiswick House. It was a complicated brief, and the creation of the sundial on site required lots of measuring that truly tested our mathematical abilities. It was a memorable and fantastic experience! Mark told me he was absolutely thrilled with British Summer Time, and so are we.”
Conclusion
The British Summer Time installation at Chiswick House is a testament to the successful collaboration between Links Signs and Mark Wallinger. It exemplifies how technical precision and artistic creativity can combine to produce a public artwork that is both scientifically engaging and aesthetically captivating. This project reinforces Links Signs’ commitment to supporting public art and contributing to cultural heritage.
