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Press release: April 2008
Eurostar and the National Gallery launch the world’s first interactive digital art gallery
for travellers at St Pancras International
Eurostar and the National Gallery today (22nd April 2008) unveiled the world’s first interactive digital art gallery
for international travellers, to be enjoyed by millions of people who pass through the high-speed rail gateway
between the UK and mainland Europe.
Located within Eurostar’s departure lounge at St Pancras International, the Station Masters interactive gallery
gives travellers unprecedented access to some of the nation’s best-loved works of art, within the unique setting
of the magnificently restored, Grade 1 listed station which was opened by Her Majesty the Queen last
November.
The cutting-edge system invites users to explore a database of 100 highlights from the National Gallery’s
collection of Western European painting, including masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Rubens, Titian, Holbein, Caravaggio, Constable, Van Gogh and Monet.
Travellers simply choose which painting they want to view by taking a sofa-style seat at one of six tailor-made,
touch-screen coffee tables. After searching the database, the picture they select is displayed on one of six
free-standing plasma screens situated within the brick archways that run along the eastern wall of the
departure lounge, thus creating a constantly evolving art gallery for fellow travellers.
Station Masters is designed to inspire travellers of all ages and includes several interactive tools to explore
the paintings. Users can zoom in on a chosen picture to discover hidden details and artistic secrets that are
often impossible to see in a conventional gallery setting. In the case of 'The Arnolfini Portrait' by Jan van Eyck
(1434), zooming in on the tiny circular mirror on the far wall reveals a remarkable reflected scene being played
out behind the artist’s viewpoint.
The featured collection of paintings includes celebrated National Gallery masterpieces such as ‘The Rokeby
Venus’ by Velázquez and 'Whistlejacket' by George Stubbs, and is arranged into eight enduring themes: Love,
Identity, Light, Celebration, Discovery, Passion, Peace and Time.
A descriptive text - available in English, French
and Flemish – accompanies each painting and links it to one of the central themes.
Travellers can also use Station Masters to send an e-card of a favourite painting to friends or relatives with
a short message before departure. The use of Station Masters is entirely free of charge.
Eurostar’s Commercial Director, Nick Mercer, said:
“St Pancras International is a 19th-century architectural
wonder restored for 21st century use. Now some of the most historic paintings in Britain can also be re-enjoyed
and re-examined in a totally new way, using this latest digital technology.
“Station Masters makes travelling by Eurostar an even more enjoyable experience, and yet further enhances one
of the greatest station buildings in the world. It is a very user-friendly innovation that makes great art accessible
for travellers of all ages and nationalities.”
The Director of the National Gallery, Dr Nicholas Penny, said:
“The National Gallery is delighted to be working
with Eurostar on the implementation of Station Masters and further enhancing the hugely successful
transformation of St Pancras International.
“Eurostar wanted to give this terminal a clear identity rooted in London’s rich cultural offering. What better
way to do this than to enable travellers to immerse themselves in some of the greatest paintings in Western
European art from the National Gallery’s collection?”
For further press information please contact:
Tom Almeroth-Williams on +44 (0)20 7747 2512
thomas.almerothwilliams@ng-london.org.uk
Eurostar press office on +44 (0)20 7843 5500 or press.office@eurostar.co.uk.
Notes for Editors
- The system was designed and developed by Land Design Studio and Studio Simple
- Land Design Studio / Studio Simple
BAFTA award winning Land Design Studio have worked with Studio Simple for many years integrating interactive communication media into architectural space. Working with Eurostar at St Pancras International has provided the perfect opportunity to demonstrate the powerful impact that this approach may bring to an entirely new transportation experience.
Presently Land are working with Christies London, on The British Music Experience, a permanent exhibition at the O2, and on a new museum for The Mary Rose, which was of course a highly successful 16th-century mode of transport.