| I AM ART |
Queens Arcade celebrated its multi-million pound refurbishment with public art projectWhen Centre Managers wanted to mark the completion of Queens Arcade's ambitious and multi-million pound refurbishment in late 2008 they decided the occasion merited more than a traditional plaque on the wall or other equally forgettable photo opportunity. Instead the Centre decided to mark the occasion with an ambitious public art project involving thousands of ordinary Cardiff residents, shoppers and visitors to the Centre in the creation of a giant photo-mosaic portrait of a Welsh celebrity. Via radio and press the public was exhorted to take part in an online poll to first nominate and then, from a short list, choose their 'Face of Cardiff' who would then be commemorated in the photo-mosiac consisting of thousands of images of shoppers visiting the Centre. The results speak for themselves. Cardiff spoke and chose 2007's 'X-Factor' runner-up Rhydian Roberts as its 'Face of Cardiff' and over four days over 3000 visitors to the Centre had their photos taken for the mosiac.
Rhydian himself joined Centre staff and excited members of the public at a special unveiling in November 2008 and the resulting artwork is still on display at the Centre, at the Queen Street entrance and interactively below: |