Sculpture in the City 2016: 18 Artists Install Works Across London's Square Mile

The City of London's annual Sculpture in the City exhibition returns for its sixth edition, placing 20 contemporary sculptures by 18 artists across the Square Mile. Works by Anthony Caro, Jaume Plensa, William Kentridge, Giuseppe Penone, Sarah Lucas, Petroc Sesti, Mat Collishaw, Enrico David, and Benedetto Pietromarchi are positioned at building entrances, intersections, and hidden corners, creating a dialogue between modern architecture—such as Norman Foster's 30 St Mary Axe (the Gherkin), Richard Rogers' Leadenhall Building (the Cheese Grater), and Rafael Vinoly's 20 Fenchurch Street (the Walkie-Talkie)—and historic sites like the 14th-century Leadenhall Market. Giuseppe Penone's bronze tree with suspended stones stands among the towers, while Sarah Lucas's largest works to date flank the Gherkin. Petroc Sesti's virtual installation at St. Helen's uses 35 square meters of LED panels to display a year of solar activity. Mat Collishaw presents a zoetrope with butterfly sculptures, a pre-cinematic optical device. Enrico David and Benedetto Pietromarchi explore intimate, precarious monumentality. The exhibition runs through the summer, offering a temporary art experience in London's financial heart.