The pyramid was designed and hand-painted by Britto, creative director of the 2007 London Pyramid Project, as a tribute to the Pyramids of Giza, the last remaining of the Ancient Seven Wonders of the World. Located at historic Speakers’ Corner, this is the first time the Royal Parks Service has permitted an art installation of such proportion to be placed in Hyde Park.
Dozens of London school children were on hand for the completion of the sculpture, one of the largest public arts installations ever seen in the capital. The school children were among approximately 1,500 from around the world who participated in a day-long international arts project in July, where they worked alongside Britto to paint two sides of the pyramid. The project included students from the UK, U.S., Egypt, Belgium and France.
“I am both honoured and humbled by the opportunity to install my artwork in one of the world’s most famous locations, Speakers’ Corner at Hyde Park. I thank the organisers of the Tutankhamun exhibition for inviting me to be a part of this incredible celebration,” said Britto. “I also applaud the children from around the world who joined me to learn about the remarkably sophisticated Egyptian civilization, while leaving their own artistic impression on a sculpture that will forever be a part of history.”
Created using state-of-the-art composite material by INNOVIDA, the monumental pyramid sculpture will be on display in Hyde Park until 15 November, after which it will go on display outside the new children’s museum being constructed in Cairo, Egypt. In addition to the sculpture in Hyde Park, a 25ft replica pyramid by Britto and eight smaller pyramids (8ft) will also be on view around the city. A number of related merchandise items will be sold in the exhibition gift shop, with proceeds benefiting international literacy programming through the Britto Foundation.
“Britto’s Pyramid Project is truly exciting and will no doubt create an incredible impression in Hyde Park. The Pyramid is expected to attract thousands of visitors and, in turn, will draw people to the Tutankhamun exhibition at The O2. We are fortunate to have these icons, both ancient and modern, in the capital,” said Visit London’s chief executive, James Bidwell.
“Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs” is organised by National Geographic, Arts and Exhibitions International and AEG Exhibitions, with cooperation from the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, and sponsored by Credit Suisse. To date, more than 325,000 tickets for the exhibition have been reserved or sold in the UK, setting a pre-sale record for the show. This is the first time Tutankhamun’s treasures have visited London in 35 years.