Turner Prize nominee designs new station artwork

A public art installation within a new railway station has been designed by a nominee for the prestigious Turner Prize.

Mark Titchner based the artwork for Cambridge South Station on the work of physician and University of Cambridge alumnus, William Harvey.

The public art was a requirement of planning permission for the new station and design details were submitted to Cambridge City Council by Network Rail.

The brief given to artists was for a "significant public artwork that creates a dynamic focus for the new station, celebrates its global context and contributes to a coherent approach".

Animated digital artwork has also been proposed to be created by Mr Titchner to support the main piece.

Cambridge South, which is being built on the Biomedical Campus, will be the third station serving the city.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said three artists were invited to an interview, before Mr Titchner was chosen to create "Together We".

The plans stated: "Mark started thinking about circulation, connections and transport networks and systems.

"Mark searched 'the writings of William Harvey' looking for all instances of the word 'together', then collected a list of words that precede it.

"Such as 'drawn together', 'mingled together', 'arise together', 'combine together', 'unite together'."

Mr Titchner will work with the London Mural Company to create the "Together We" poem.

It is proposed to be painted on the balustrades of the stairwells of the west and east station buildings.

Digital artwork is also proposed to be displayed on screens within the station.

Network Rail said the artwork would be made using hard wearing paint to make sure it is durable, but said it could be retouched with the agreement of the artist if it became damaged.

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