Heads in the Cloud at St Pancras station

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Cloud: Meteoros is first of three pieces of public art to fill  space left by Olympic Rings

An enormous piece of public art has been unveiled at one of Europe’s most loved buildings, St Pancras International station, from which the Eurostar now travels to France and Belgium. Cloud: Meteoros, designed by British-born artist Lucy Orta and her husband Jorge, is suspended above the vast Grand Terrace to be enjoyed by the 48 million people who visit each year.

Inspired by the history and grandeur of the station itself, Lucy + Jorge Orta have designed Cloud: Meteoros to unite people inside the station with the world outside. The cloud will hover above the buzz of visitors to St Pancras with figures gently resting on top that echo the passengers waiting on the platforms below. The artists envisioned a Greek Agora – a meeting place – when they conceived the concept of the figures gathering together on the cloud. Sized at 15m wide, 3m high and 3m deep, it is hoped the installation will make a lasting impact with visitors.

Today’s unveiling signals the launch of the first commission in the Terrace Wires, series. The work has been commissioned by HS1 Ltd, the owners of St Pancras International following on the success of the Olympic Rings which were suspended in the same space in the months up to and then during London 2012 Olympics last year. The Terrace Wires will hang from the same equipment that held the Olympic Rings in place under the stunning roof of the station.

The Ortas’ artwork was shortlisted by a Terrace Wires panel, whose members include:

·       Nigel Carrington, Rector at University of the Arts, London;

·       Richard Cook, Editorial Director at Wallpaper Magazine;

·       Evan Davis, journalist and author;

·       Chris Wainwright, Head of Camberwell, Chelsea and Wimbledon Colleges;

·       Edmund de Waal, Ceramic Artist and Author;

·       Nicola Shaw, Chief Executive Officer at HS1 Ltd.

Lucy Orta, artist and one half of Lucy + Jorge Orta partnership, said:

I hope our sculpture, suspended in the midst of this incredible architecture, will be one more way for the millions of visitors to admire the beauty of the space and to take their minds off the mundane. Just in the way ceiling frescoes affected Renaissance dwellers many centuries ago, our hope is that this sculpture will similarly inspire Londoners, making them look-up and ultimately feel differently about their surroundings. What a wonderful way for art to intervene into people’s lives.

Evan Davis, broadcaster, author and Terrace Wires judging panel member, added: 

St Pancras is an intimidating space to fill so it has been fascinating to see how the shortlisted artists responded to the challenge in divergent and imaginative ways. Lucy + Jorge Orta’s work stood out for its ambition and for its ability to stand out against the architecture. Passengers may feel they've seen enough cloud this year, but I hope these ones will inspire them and get everyone looking upwards as they use the station.

The tentacles of the Terrace Wire programme will extend beyond St Pancras, in a series of high-profile partnerships over the period, including outreach to local schools and businesses. Further details on this will be announced later this year.

Cloud : Meteorosis now available to view at the Grand Terrace at St Pancras International until Autumn 2013. The second piece of art will be installed in spring 2014. The judging panel will then reassemble next year to judge the third piece of art to grace the station in 2015.