Preserve Paolozzi!

Tell Tube Lines to save the Tottenham Court Road mosaic

by Josh SperoWednesday, 09 February 2011

One small section of Paolozzi's mosaic

Some of London's most public, but probably least noticed, art is under threat: part of Eduardo Paolozzi's technicolour mosaics throughout Tottenham Court Road Tube station may have to be removed because of the station's massive Crossrail-led expansion.

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Permalink Submitted by Cordley Coit (not verified) on Sat, 12/02/2011 - 15:47

It would indeed be a pity to see a major work like this vandalized in the name of progress. It is a reminder in these grim times that London was once a place of art and color.

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Permalink Submitted by Peter Craik (not verified) on Sun, 13/02/2011 - 12:54

I've enjoyed these mosaics for many years now. Many of us do notice bright, optimistic artwork, and would feel a great loss if these mosaics were ever to disappear.

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Permalink Submitted by David Nice on Sun, 13/02/2011 - 13:07

I'm in two minds about this. Of course I want to see the Paolozzi stay in some form (and what does 'some tiles' actually mean? Your second update is in any case reassuring). On the other hand, the station passageways have always been horribly claustrophobic and clearly commuters could do with more space. The exits are a total nightmare, but that's another story

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Permalink Submitted by Rebecca (not verified) on Fri, 18/02/2011 - 00:36

I may be horribly naive about modern journalism, but would it not have made more sense to check with TFL *before* running this story and starting the petition? On the other hand that would have left you with a much less exciting (though better-informed) article.

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Permalink Submitted by Josh Spero on Fri, 18/02/2011 - 11:27

Thanks for the comment, Rebecca. In my defence, the TfL response is exactly the same as the one given on the Standard piece, which is linked to, and the response doesn't vitiate my piece at all: in fact, it strengthens it because they admit there will be parts removed, and the point of my piece is to let them that we are paying attention.

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