Wow Look at the size of this woodpecker It’s Gary Hume’s Pecking Bird a truly massive sculpture.
This isn’t just any woodpecker. This avian artwork is a giant 14 meters high and 9 meters wide. It’s part of British Land’s public art collection at Regent’s Place. It was installed in 2013.
The Pecking Bird is made from 15mm aluminium. It’s water jet cut into layers. Each layer is mounted on cylindrical aluminium rods. This gives it a remarkable three-dimensional effect. The artist insisted on an incredibly high gloss finish. Multiple layers of wet spray paint were used to achieve this dazzling shine. The result is a vibrant colour saturation. It really catches your eye.
The sculpture’s location is perfect. It faces south. That means it’s visible from many West End viewpoints. You can see it from Tottenham Court Road Euston Road and even Warren Street Station.
It’s more than just a pretty face though. NES Architectural played a key role in its creation. Their large-scale manufacturing ensured the accuracy of the sculpture’s abstract modules. They had to maintain strict quality control. They needed to ensure the flatness of the material. This was essential given the sculpture’s highly reflective surface. The reflective surface needs to look flat from many different angles.
The Pecking Bird is part of the Euston Road open-air gallery. It contributes to the vibrant visual landscape of this busy area. It’s enjoyed by everyone who works studies or visits London. So next time you’re in the area keep an eye out for this striking work of art. This magnificent woodpecker is a true testament to artistic vision and engineering skill.