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International Art Treasures Web Magazine July 2004 |
The Queen Mary 2
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300,000 pieces of steel involving 932 miles of welding, 151,400 gross tonnage describes the exterior of the majestic Queen Mary 2. Equally fascinating is the interior decor of this beautiful Ocean Liner. Cunard, the ship's owner, assembled an international team of artisans to add their individual designs to the various public and private rooms of the Queen Mary 2. The art and decor was carefully selected and involved a tremendous amount of work which was completed shortly before HM Queen Elizabeth II attended the naming ceremony in January 2004. |
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The Grand Lobby
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The Bronze Relief is one of the largest art pieces on the Queen Mary 2 and holds pride of place in the Atrium of the magnificent Grand Lobby. John McKenna and his assistants worked in the artist's studio at High McGownston Ayrshire to complete the relief. Left: Title: Bronze Relief, Grand Lobby, Queen Mary 2
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John McKenna, who has experience in architectural relief, was approached to create a work fitting the Grand Lobby of the new Queen Mary 2 Ocean Liner.
The theme for this piece came from the first Queen Mary, which had a glass transatlantic route piece on board. It was the artist who insisted on using real bronze for a piece of this magnitude and his experience and his vision was accepted and the piece commissioned.
Title: Creation of Bronze Relief in John McKenna's Studio
Artist: John McKenna (Scotland)
Photographer: Louis-Philippe Capelle
Image Courtesy John McKenna
The dimensions of the imposing bronze required thought not only about the creation, but also the installation aboard the ship. John knew the artwork would be lifted over 10 meters into the Grand Lobby. It measures 6.5 meters wide, 7.0 meters across and 30 cm in depth.
The solution was to create the work in pieces. The background was comprised of eight panel sections specifically to allow for an easier installation.
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John McKenna explains, "Initially a large structural steel frame was built with girders to hang the relief sculpture in [the artist's] studio. Then eight stainless steel frames were made to mount the sculpture background on." He adds, "Careful observation of the artwork in situ on the Queen Mary 2 will reveal the joints but they are not obvious." |
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"Onto these frames the artwork was fabricated in sheet bronze by plasma cutting, roller bending and various sheet metal working techniques in [his] studio."
John describes the bronze relief. "The sculpture depicts the ship sailing through the Sun, leaving stormy clouds behind on its transatlantic route, piercing all points of the compass. Within the sculpture the creation of the continents around the Atlantic ocean and their relation to each other were distorted to fit into the design of the panel [using] artistic license."
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Portions of the artwork were mirror polished, while other sections satin finished for the purpose of providing tonal contrast in the bronze relief. After it was onboard it was lacquered to protect it from the sea atmosphere.
Title: The Bronze Relief in the Grand Lobby of the Queen Mary 2
Artist: John McKenna (Scotland)
Photographer: Louis-Philippe Capelle
Image Courtesy John McKenna
John explains, "Perspectives were distorted to enable viewing from far below, and as with all relief sculpture there are optimum viewing positions for best visual effects."
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John confesses that he enjoyed working on the demanding piece. It was a great learning experience given the sheer size and extra concerns, such as sea air, that were necessary to consider as part of the creation. "It was a careful orchestration of my designed work, hand beaten bronze sheet, and prefabricated elements in bronze sheet that were made by specialist processes, such as the laser cut wave forms." The piece was delivered to the Chantiers d'Atlantique ship yard in Saint Nazaire, France. John was on hand for the difficult installation of the work, but adds he thoroughly enjoyed his time in France with the ship builders, as together they placed the beautiful Bronze Relief in the Grand Lobby of the Queen Mary 2.
The Britannia Room
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Barbara Broekman's imposing tapestry is located in The Britannia Restaurant. The artists describes the work as "A large liner leaving New York applied in a rather figurative way." The tapestry took nine months to weave, with a team of artists working under Barbara's direction and design. Given the upcoming deadline, and the size allowing for only four weavers at a time, two daily shifts were set up to complete the tapestry. |
Barbara likes to create pieces that can been seen from distances far away to overlook the image, but a closer inspection will reveal the colors and abstract forms used in the design.
The three-deck-high Britannia Restaurant spans the width of the ship, and includes a sweeping central staircase allowing the passengers to make their own grand entrance.
Title: Wedgwood Place Setting, Queen Mary 2
Image Courtesy: Cunard
The Queen Mary 2 commissioned Wedgwood to design a pattern specific for the ship. The passengers will dine on the finest Wedgwood Plates and sip wine from Waterford Crystal.
The Commodore Club
Henk Brandwijk specializes in building ship models. In his words, "Whether I make a model of a Friesian boeier or of a huge ocean-going cruise ship, they all have one thing in common: their quality is top notch." Important to this artist in his mastery of miniature ship building is "accuracy of dimensions, realistic detail, [and a] caring finishing touch." This is common in all Brandwijk models!
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The model was created from wood built on a plywood frame finished with epoxy and the original Queen Mary 2 paint.
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The fittings such as the railings, mast, cranes and davits are handmade from brass. The lighting in the model includes 2,400 small glass fiber optics receiving light from 3 100-watt bulbs. The painstaking accuracy required more than a year and involved a minimum of 12 hours a day.
Art on Board
Birth of a Legend, is a 72-minute documentary made about the Queen Mary 2. The film is about the conceptualization, building and navigation of the Ocean Liner. It was produced for ARTE Channel (France-Germany), Belgian Television (RTBF and VRT) and Swiss Television TSR. Together the director, Rob Rombout and Photographer, Louis-Philippe Capelle wrote the documentary.
The artwork on board the Queen Mary 2 is a focal feature of Birth of a Legend.
Title: Four Seasons Spring Mural, Queen Mary 2
Artist: DKT (England)
Image Courtesy: Cunard
DKT of England produced Four Season, Spring Mural. Miami based Bolaé was responsible for the creation of Winter Garden.
Title: Winter Garden Art Work in the Queen Mary 2 Public Rooms
Artist: Garrison Boyle and Donald Laier, Bolaé (USA)
Image Courtesy: Cunard
The amenities include the Todd English Restaurant, a spa and an onboard art gallery.
Title: The Art Gallery, Queen Mary 2
Image Courtesy: Cunard
There is an Art Auctioneer who manages the Art Gallery and holds art auctions for the pieces that are available for sale. Featured artists include Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali, Peter Max and Pablo Picasso together with marine themed artwork.
Title: Queen Mary 2 Exterior, Starboard Side
Image Courtesy: Cunard
Onderneming & Kunst (Enterprise & Art), an Amsterdam based art consultancy firm, was selected to procure the art for the Queen Mary 2. The company had worked with Cunard in the past. They commissioned art which would reflect Cunard's history and the majesty of the new ocean liner. The company worked closely with their chosen artists to ensure that the strict safety restrictions were taken into consideration not to mention the logistics of installing the art on board. Onderneming & Kunst selected 128 artists from 16 nations who produced 565 custom artworks for the public locations in the Queen Mary 2. They also procured art and prints for private rooms, luxury suites and corridors of the ship.
Art fans will find extra treats as they cruise the seas on board the luxurious Cunard Queen Mary 2.