Behold. Ariadne Wrapped stands before you. This sculpture by Gavin Turk is more than just a piece of art. It is a conversation starter. It is located in Station Square. Ariadne Wrapped was unveiled in June 2022. It depicts the Greek Goddess Ariadne.
Turk drew inspiration from Giorgio de Chirico. De Chirico was known for his surrealist works. These works often featured a white colonnade and a piazza. Ariadne’s reclining figure is set against the station’s arches. The sculpture uses trompe l’oeil. This playful technique adds ambiguity. It makes viewers question its meaning.
Ariadne Wrapped appears to be an object under a dust sheet. It looks ready to be unpacked. However, the cloth is a key part of the artwork. It suggests the sculpture is always in transit. It remains stationary amid the bustle of passing trains. The criss-crossing ropes represent navigation lines. They reference new perspectives.
Turk’s wrapped work evokes memories of Christo and Jeanne-Claude. This artist duo was iconic for large-scale wrapped landmarks. This concept deceives the eye. Ariadne is metaphorically wrapped in history, context, and time.
Brookgate commissioned Ariadne Wrapped. This shows a commitment to investing in culture. The artwork was carefully selected. There were consultations with the Cambridge City Council Public Art Panel. A Public Art Steering Group was also involved. It included community representatives, local businesses, and arts members. Ariadne Wrapped is part of a series of artworks at the CB1 Estate.
Turk installed Nail in 2011. It was a giant rusty nail outside St Paul’s Cathedral. In 2016, he installed L’Âge d’Or in Queen Elizabeth Park. Ariadne Wrapped, Nail, and L’Âge d’Or are surreal symbols. They invite the audience into a larger metaphysical maze.
The shape suggests a reclining figure. This references the mythical Ariadne. She saved Theseus but was abandoned on Naxos. Now, she is a packaged shape forever in transportation. The sound of the train informs this parcel in limbo. The ropes act like compositional lines. They point to new perspectives.
Consider Ariadne Wrapped as a challenge. A challenge to see beyond the surface. A challenge to find meaning in the unexpected. What does Ariadne Wrapped say to you?