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Big 4

Big 4 is a sculpture made of steel bars located outside 124 Horseferry Road, the headquarters of the Channel Four Television Corporation in London. Designed to represent the Channel 4 logo, it also serves as a framework for a series of art installations. By November 2012, seven installations had been created on the sculpture, including works linked to the 2012 Summer Paralympics, versions covered in newsprint and umbrellas, and a design simulating the statue breathing. Another dressing, celebrating the devolution of Channel 4 from London to regionally based offices alongside the Horseferry Road headquarters, was approved and scheduled for later in 2019.

Big 4 sculpture in bright colours stands in front of a modern glass-and-steel building.
Big 4 displayed outside the Channel 4 headquarters in London.
June 2015 © John K Thorne · CC BY 2.0
The Big 4 red metallic sculpture stands in front of a modern glass building, with patterned panels and the slogan \
The Big 4 sculpture stands in the forecourt of a modern glass building, decorated with graphic panels and the slogan \"Find your world in ours.\"
February 2008 © · CC BY-SA 2.0
Two views of the Big 4 sculpture beside a modern building with a red exterior accent.
The Big 4 sculpture shown from two angles outside a modern building.
© · Public domain
The Big 4 sculpture covered in colorful open umbrellas stands outside a modern glass building.
The Big 4 sculpture, covered in a mosaic of open umbrellas, stands outside a modern glass-and-steel building.
January 2010 © · CC BY 2.0
The Big 4 sculpture with a snowman and child figure in front of a modern glass building.
The Big 4 sculpture stands outside a modern building, decorated with snowman-themed artwork.
November 2012 © · CC BY-SA 3.0

Identification

TypeSculpture
TitleBig 4

Creator

Design and construction collaboratorsMike Smith Studio, Freestate, and Atelier One

Discovery and provenance

Planning responsibilityVocalism was responsible for securing planning for the structure and all dressings throughout the project

Physical characteristics

MaterialSteel bars
FunctionA framework for changing art installations

Location and ownership

LocationOutside the headquarters of Channel Four Television Corporation on Horseferry Road, London

Iconography and meaning

DepictsThe Channel 4 logo when correctly aligned
Stylistic referenceSimilar to the formation of the Channel 4 logo in Channel 4's idents at the time

History and restoration

Paralympic-themed design conceptCombined a discus thrower based on the Greek sculpture Discobolus, a circle representing the international symbol of access, and the gold, silver, and bronze colours of the Paralympic medals
Breathing effect operationElectric fans drew air into the Big 4 and then were turned off, allowing the tension in the fabric to push the air back out
Paralympic-themed design titleMonument to the Unintended Performer
Paralympic-themed design creatorTony Heaton
Broadcast association of final themeDue to be broadcast at Christmas on Channel 4
Paralympic theme periodPrior to the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London
First unveiling eventAttended by Lord Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London Organising Committee for the Games, and hosted by Channel 4 Chief Executive David Abraham
Final 2012 designClaire Watson created a design based on The Snowman and the Snowdog
Final 2012 design themeThe Snowman and the Snowdog
Further competition winnerHannah Gourlay, a Kingston University fashion design graduate
Upcoming approved dressingA dressing to celebrate Channel 4's devolution from London to a series of regionally based offices, alongside the Horseferry Road HQ; approved and to be erected later in 2019
Hannah Gourlay designCovered the framework with a material that inflated and deflated to simulate breathing
Critical receptionMixed; Mark Hooper of The Guardian praised it, while commenters at Creative Review were mostly negative
Stephanie Imbeau work descriptionCovered the Big 4 in hundreds of umbrellas to show the value of an everyday object that is taken for granted
Stephanie Imbeau work titleShelter
Young arts graduates competition winnerStephanie Imbeau
Donated printing plates sourcesCreative Review, The Independent, and Trinity Mirror newspapers and magazines
El Anatsui installationWrapped the Big 4 in newsprint made from donated printing plates
Mark Titchner installation featuresIncluded a video booth at the base where members of the public recorded their views on Channel 4 and broadcasting; the recordings were edited into a montage played on large screens outside the statue
Mark Titchner installation titleFind your world in ours, Find our world in yours
First installationCovered the statue in photographs of the inside of the human chest around the heart
First year artistsNick Knight, Mark Titchner, El Anatsui, and one artist selected from an open competition for young arts graduates
Unveiling purposeTo celebrate Channel 4's 25th anniversary and coincide with The Big Art Project
Unveiled byCulture Minister Margaret Hodge
Unveiling date16 October 2007
Associated images/captionsStephanie Imbeau's Shelter; Tony Heaton's Monument to the Unintended Performer during the 2012 Paralympic Games; the installation by Hannah Gourlay; the Snowman and the Snowdog themed installation; the Big 4 sculpture in Pride colours during the 2014 Winter Paralympics

Materials

Material used in Hannah Gourlay designDartex Coatings material, more commonly used to cover NHS bed mattresses