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Post by metrailway on Mar 3, 2013 0:28:32 GMT
A Culture Show Special about the cultural history of the London Underground will be aired on BBC 2 on 6th March at 2200 hours. Going UndergroundIn celebration of the 150th anniversary of London Underground, Alastair Sooke presents a cultural history of the oldest tube network in the world.
He follows the progress of a major new artwork for all 270 stations by the leading contemporary artist Mark Wallinger, and shows that art has played an absolutely central role in the identity of the tube. Through posters by some of the finest artists of the day, the system became the people's gallery. Through architecture, and design, its typeface and its branding, it became the image of modernity.
Alastair uncovers the story of a relatively unsung hero, Frank Pick, whose 32 years running the Underground shaped London and Londoners more than anyone since Sir Christopher Wren.
The tube has won itself a place in our imagination, as contemporary writers, Paul Morley, Peter York and John Lanchester testify.
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class411
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Post by class411 on Mar 8, 2013 8:43:19 GMT
I'm surprised no one has mentioned this.
Possibly because it was billed as 'Culture Show Special' so no obvious underground connection in the main title.
A pretty good half hour showing the newly commissioned art work that will be placed, permanently, in all stations.
Quite a bit of interesting historical stuff although nothing outstandingly new. A few (unfortunately far too brief) shots of some old and some very old, stock working.
And very pleased that Harry Beck got acknowledged with suitable praise.
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Post by rheostar on Mar 8, 2013 9:17:55 GMT
I'm going to find my station's labyrinth later today.
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Post by Dstock7080 on Mar 8, 2013 11:19:45 GMT
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class411
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Post by class411 on Mar 8, 2013 12:11:58 GMT
So it was.
I hope that people noticed and managed to catch it as it was quite good.
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Post by railtechnician on Mar 8, 2013 14:06:22 GMT
I watched it as I watch all such programmes on the Underground and related subjects, NR, TBMs, great civil engineering projects and feats etc.
The programme was too short, was simply a rehash of well known material from previous programmes and well known features like 'Under Night Streets' and its focus seemed to be art. While I have always enjoyed the architectures of the various parts of the system both above and below ground I have no time for art for art's sake. Places shown like Arnos Grove and Southgate are well known to me and were long before I began my LT/LU career. 'Poems on the Underground' I see as nothing special now just as I saw them as nothing special when they first appeared, as for 'the labyrinth' all I see is a simple maze akin to those that I and other grammar school boys created on notepads when sat in boring lessons 45 years ago or more. I wonder just how much money has been wasted to produce this worthless and very forgettable icon which adds absolutely nothing to the Underground network and which probably will have ongoing costs over and above the design and installation!
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