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This Skylon print by Paul Catherall is another striking piece of artwork created to mark the 60th anniversary of Festival of Britain.
The Skylon tower was built as part of the Festival of Britain but lasted only a year before being taken down It now just survives on London's Southbank as the name of the Royal Festival Hall resturant. Catherall's linocut makes it look like the futuristic creation it must have appeared like back then – he says he was aiming to capture the adventure and spirit of optimism of the festival. The colours used are perfect to reflect the period of Skylon and help create a striking piece of artwork.
The print is limited to 60 and costs £195.
Buy it from The Southbank Centre
wow, this is beautiful
Conceptually iffy. Far too Deco looking. More Metropolis than mid century. Colour all wrong too.
Check out this
http://www.donaldshort.co.uk/index.php?id=268
I bought one – looks amazing
Agreed,good quality but just not right.
Checked donald short’s work. Excellent
This is my favourite
http://www.donaldshort.co.uk/index.php?id=261
Definitely worth checking out some of Catherall’s other stuff – like the Oxo towers
Since when was icey green blue a 50’s colour. This is just wrong, sorry. Good design is founded on knowledge and good research.
The main problem here is the solid bursts of light – something ineffably associated with the inter war years and, in fact, going back to the Edwardian period. Out in the suburbs every other front gate seemed to have a sunburst, as did windows, tympani etc. This unfortunately places this print in the wrong decade. The other issue is the composition; a cluttered three layer affair which is not the clean design that one would associate with the 50’s, in fact the ‘cut off’ effect is rather more Impressionist.
Finally the perspective – seen from below – would naturally incline the Skylon to the right or left – certainly not straight. This in tandem with the foreshortening firmly establishes the viewpoint.