A major new site-specific artwork by British artist Shezad Dawood has been unveiled on the façade of The Gaumont, a new commercial and cultural anchor for the King’s Road.
The Gaumont is a landmark £235M development by Cadogan, located at the heart of London’s iconic King’s Road. The 220,000sq ft project comprises flagship fashion retail, an arthouse cinema, ‘creative cluster’ for independents, office space, residential apartments, hospitality venues including a rooftop bar with panoramic views, pub theatre – and Dawood’s art installation Cascade, an expansive ceramic diptych permanently installed on the building’s façade. Featuring two vertical panels, each measuring 6x3m and made of 144 hand glazed tiles, it occupies the historic panelling which originally listed the films on show and the screen stars associated with them.
The artwork depicts a full moon passing through the night sky, paying homage to the heritage and memory of the site’s origins as the Gaumont Palace Theatre, which distributed early cinematic pioneer Georges Melies classic A Trip to the Moon. Other local influences include James Abbott McNeill Whistler’s painting Nocturne in Black and Gold (which depicts falling fireworks above the River Thames in Chelsea) and gothic horror novelists Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley, both of whom lived locally, the role of the moon in their masterpieces Dracula and Frankenstein, and the impact their haunting imagery had on early cinema.
Equally important as inspirations to Dawood’s work were characters as varied as Charles II, whom the King’s Road is named after and iconic British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and her boutique Sex, which was located on the King’s Road – and whose ubiquitous logo playfully appropriated Charles’ sceptre and orb. The geometric elements of Mary Quant’s designs and the bold and unique colour palette of the Chelsea Pottery, round off Dawood’s influences for Cascade. The relief elements act as a quasi-sundial as the sun moves overhead and the shadows dance, creating a kinetic movement to the piece during sunlight. The work is then lit to dramatic effect by night.
Hugh Seaborn, CEO of Cadogan, said: “When we envisioned The Gaumont, we knew it had to be more than a redevelopment – it had to feel rooted in the cultural legacy of the King’s Road and speak to the people who live, work and walk along this road every day. The unveiling of ’Cascade’ lights up the restored historic façade of The Gaumont and eloquently celebrates so much of the King’s Road’s rich heritage and the many icons associated with it. Shezad Dawood was the perfect artist to express that. His work isn’t just beautiful – it’s a creative anchor. It reminds us that development isn’t only about new space, but about identity. His work captures the emotional texture of the area: the cinema, the characters, the creative spirit that’s always defined Chelsea. It is part of a wider revitalisation plan for one of the world’s most famous high streets.”
