'Orbit' by Alexandre da Cunha

Modus Operandi in partnership with GPE and Allies & Morrison architects announce a new integrated public artwork by Alexandre da Cunha for 2 Aldermanbury Square London EC2V 5DX.

Curated by Modus Operandi, Orbit is integrated into the architecture at three levels of the new development, which includes enhancement of the raised City Walkway to create a new link and gateway to the Culture Mile.

Alexandre da Cunha presently lives and works in São Paulo. His previous major outdoor sculptures in the UK include ‘Sunset, Sunrise, Sunset’, 2021, on permanent view at Battersea Power Station Underground Station in London.

Anya Gallaccio announced as winning artist for the AIDS Memorial in London

AIDS Memory UK has announced Anya Gallaccio as the winning artist to create The AIDS Memorial in London.

The memorial, to be located on South Crescent, Store Street in Fitzrovia, will take the form of a felled tree. It will offer a space for remembrance and solidarity, commemorating those affected by HIV/AIDS in the past, present and the future.

Gallaccio’s proposal features a tree trunk, its rings extracted from the core and displayed upright nearby. The resulting hollow space invites visitors to interact and engage with the memorial and serves as a reminder of those who have been lost to HIV/AIDS.

Modus Operandi has led the artist selection process: researching, longlisting, shortlisting and advising on final selection; and in partnership with the client is engaged in managing the project through to completion.

AIDS Memorial in London

In 2023 Modus Operandi was appointed by the charitable trust AIDS Memory UK to advise on the artist selection process for this important new commission. The site – South Crescent, Store Street, London WC1 – has been provided by Camden Council; initial funding to select an artist has been agreed by the GLA. Ash Kotak is the Artist Director at AIDS Memory UK and Stephanie Allen, a trustee of the charity, chairs the shortlisting and judging panels.

Following a call for Expressions of Interest, five artists have been selected for the shortlist: Anya Gallaccio, Ryan Gander, Harold Offeh, Shahpour Pouyan, and Diana Puntar. They will present their proposals to a Judging Panel in mid-March. 

Modus Operandi’s team members for the project are Vivien Lovell, Jenni Lomax and Poppy Heron.

Bridget Riley ceiling commission, ‘Verve’, 2023, The British School at Rome

Bridget Riley's commission, ‘Verve’, 2023, on the barrell vaults of Edwin Lutyens' ceiling at The British School at Rome has recently been inaugurated. This first ceiling painting by Bridget Riley is located in the entrance hall of the British School at Rome. Since 2016, the artist has endowed the annual Bridget Riley Fellowship, which provides the opportunity for a young painter to spend six months at the school.

Modus Operandi Director, Vivien Lovell, served as Chair of the Faculty of Fine Arts, The British School at Rome, 2013 - 2020. She was retained to advise on Riley’s commission at the invitation of Mark Getty, Chair of the Council of Trustees, British School at Rome.

'Swarm', 2023, by Alison Wilding, unveiled at 1 Grosvenor Square, London W1K 4AB

Lodha UK in partnership with Modus Operandi and Eric Parry Architects recently unveiled a

new public artwork Swarm by Alison Wilding for No.1 Grosvenor Square, W1K 4AB.

Curated by Modus Operandi, Alison Wilding’s relief sculpture is integrated into the retained façade of the development, a scheme led by Eric Parry Architects. The sculpture was fabricated by Benson Sedgwick Engineering with Other People’s Sculpture.

The artwork forms a striking element within Lodha’s development and a new contribution to Westminster City Council’s programme of public art.

Artist Kate V Robertson appointed to JMP Design Team for George Square, Glasgow.

Kate V. Robertson, Glasgow-based artist, has recently been appointed to work as part of the John McAslan + Partners Design Team for George Square, Glasgow.

Following Glasgow City Council’s endorsement of Modus Operandi’s Public Art Scoping Report for George Square & The Avenues, artists were invited to express their interest in the design team project and from a shortlist of four, Kate V Robertson was selected.

Kate will be working to develop her artwork concept with JMP as part of their commission to deliver the transformation of the square, and nearly 3 kilometres of surrounding streets, as part of Glasgow’s £115 million Avenues programme.

See https://www.mcaslan.co.uk/work/george-square-and-avenues