Post by Voodoo Chile In Wonderland on Apr 30th, 2014 at 5:40pm
Bill Wyman, Brian May and Roger Daltrey
Unveiling Sir Peter Blake Mural, Royal Albertt Hall, London - April 19, 2014 © and thanks to Tim P. Whitby
Sir Peter Blake unveils new artwork at Royal Albert Hall
A new Sir Peter Blake mural, which charts the history of the Royal Albert Hall and features Sir Winston Churchill, Dame Shirley Bassey and Johnny Cash, was unveiled today
By Rupert Hawksley
4:00PM BST 29 Apr 2014
Sir Peter Blake, who designed the artwork for the Beatles's 1967 album, Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, has completed work on a somewhat larger canvas. The 81-year-old artist today (April 29) unveiled a giant triptych at the Royal Albert Hall, entitled Appearing at the Royal Albert Hall.
The mural, which is 10-foot high, features more than 400 figures from the worlds of music, sport, science and the arts who have appeared at the London venue from its opening in 1871 through to the present day.
The list of those included is diverse – where else would you see Albert Einstein and Victoria Beckham together? – and reads like a 'Who's Who' of the past 143 years: Sir Winston Churchill, Sir Edward Elgar, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Fred Astaire, Dame Shirley Bassey, Johnny Cash, Jimmi Hendrix and Tim Henman all feature. The mural also celebrates some of the more unusual names to have graced this famous stage, including Lord Baden-Powell, Big Daddy and a Dalek.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Sir Peter said: "I was honoured when the Royal Albert Hall commissioned me to create this mural. The project instantly captured my imagination – the ultimate opportunity to promote the arts in one of Britain’s greatest venues, combined with the challenging process of immortalising over 400 of the world’s most popular artists."
Dame Vera Lynn, who is among those celebrated in the artwork, spoke of her connection with the venue and her excitement about being featured: "I always looked forward to performing here, because although it is a very large space I felt very comfortable, and that I was in touch with the audience. I feel very proud to be included in the mural in this world-renowned building."
Jasper Hope, Chief Operating Officer at the Royal Albert Hall, said: "It has been a privilege and a delight to work with Sir Peter Blake in creating this spectacular work of art: a unique celebration of the world’s most famous stage by one of the world’s great artists.
"This magnificent mural brings to life the vibrancy and dynamism of the venue, which has welcomed so many iconic performers, from musicians, comedians and actors to leading statesmen, sportsmen and authors."
Sir Peter, who is also known as the 'Godfather of British pop Art', was joined at the opening by Queen's Brian May, former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman and Noel Gallagher.
