Bosa Ceramics Trafalgar Square Exhibition by Jaime Hayon
A centerpiece of this year’s London Design Festival will be located in the heart of London, in Trafalgar Square. The Tournament, an installation created by Spanish designer, Jaime Hayón is a gigantic chess set, with 79″ high ceramic chess pieces designed by Hayón on a specially created mosaic glass chess board. The installation, which will be set between the two fountains in Trafalgar Square, will be in situ from Saturday 19 – Wednesday 23 September 2009.
Each of the 32 chess pieces has been handcrafted by Hayón, working with Bosa, the Italian ceramics experts in Veneto, Italy. Many of the chess pieces reference specific iconic buildings in London and their domes, towers and spires. Elements of the city of London and its history are encoded on the pieces using Hayón’s very personal style. Each chess piece is unique and hand-painted by Hayón himself.
The chess pieces are supported by a wooden base on castors so that they can be moved around easily, and there is a metal frame within the ceramic form to provide stability. The chess board is made of mosaic glass tiles created by Italian tiling specialists, Bisazza. Rising above the giant tiled chessboard are elevated platforms where players sit in large, high-backed chairs directing their pieces around the board. The London Design Festival are actively encouraging the general public to apply to take part in the chess games and come down and play or simply watch and enjoy this community spectacle.
The Tournament is inspired by London and its history and heritage. The Battle of Trafalgar was organized like a chess game of naval strategy – the notes and images show how carefully it was worked out by Admiral Nelson when the British Navy defeated the combined fleets of the Spanish and French navy.
Jaime Hayón comments, “I’ve lived in London for over 3 years during which time I have been able to discover the city, its history and heritage. I will be able to represent all of this using my own personal style. I really like the idea that Londoners and other visitors can come to Trafalgar Square – such a central focus of London – to wander around my installation and perhaps even take part in a game of chess.”
During The Tournament’s installation, members of the British Chess Federation will be playing matches in the morning, and from lunchtime the general public will have the chance to play games.
This installation is an initiative created by the London Design Festival team for the 2009 Festival in collaboration with the Spanish Embassy, The Arts Council and the London Development Agency with support from Bosa, Bisazza, BD Barcelona, Camper and production by Event Concept. The London Design Festival has also been working with the Events for London team to promote London as the world’s leading design city.
The idea behind The Tournament was to create a design spectacle and a performance which actively involves the public. Ben Evans, Director of the London Design Festival, said, “Trafalgar Square is the heart of London with tens of thousands of people passing by everyday. Jaime Hayón has created a spectacle that will draw people towards it and show them how dynamic and fun design can be”.
designs by jaime hayon may be found here (link opens in new window).
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