Art on the London Underground: 150th anniversary

On 9 January 2013, London Underground celebrated 150 years since the first underground journey took place between Paddington and Farringdon on the Metropolitan Railway.

Since then the London Underground has been a platform for several artists to present their artwork to the public.

Art on the Underground's newest project attends to the 150th anniversary of London's underground.

On the 10th of january 1863 the first underground steam train rode between Paddington and Farringdon.

 

The tube as a place for art - this idea was developed in 1908 of  the former administrative officer Frank Pick. He was employed by the carriers of the different tube lines to develop the commercialisation of London's underground. In spite of the hype of the Metropolitan line, the three deep and pricy lines, Bakerloo-; Pickadilly- and today's Northernline didn't attract enough passengers.

 Pick then came up with the idea of eye-catching graphic posters to disentitle the passenger's scepticism.

Until now London's Underground is a public art's platform. To mark the 150th anniversary of LU in 2013 there will be artworks presented in each of the 270 tube stations. From large-scale video installations to fordable take away tube maps designed by artists like Mark Wallinger or Tracey Emin.

Definitely one reason to travel to London this year!

Thank you for reading,