from zero to hero: corrie baldauf celebrates london's television centre

as if a heavenly paintbrush had descended from the sky, an enormous golden zero has been inscribed onto the car park ramp of the television centre in west london. this temporary installation is the brainchild of artist corrie baldauf and is intended to highlight and celebrate the history and function of the tower ahead of its major new renovation next year. 

entitled ‘gold zero’, the project was commissioned by white noise — a publication dedicated to the people and places of london’s ‘white city’ district. beginning on the uppermost ramp of the television centre’s car park, the golden line wraps itself around the outside of the tower and continues onto the building’s roof to form a perfect circle from above. the work is intended as an ephemeral addition to the london landmark, gradually to be worn away as cars follow the artist’s yellow road to the top of the tower. created by a group of volunteers and over 200 liters of gold liquitex paint, the circlet can only be fully appreciated from above. 

the giant zero is the brainchild of artist corrie baldauf

originally from detroit, michigan, corrie baldauf was attracted to the rapidly growing architecture of the ‘white city’ district where the centre stands. after completing a three month international residency with london’s griffin gallery, baldauf saw the project as a chance to both celebrate the rapidly transforming area, and mark the end of her residency.

the project was commissioned by white noise, a publication dedicated to the white city area

‘I find the experience of standing on top of buildings exhilarating,’ says corrie baldauf of the sky-high painting. ‘they are my mountain tops. I want this excitement to be shared through a collaborative project, celebrating and embracing change together.’ ‘gold zero’ is a simple but powerful way of celebrating the role of architecture in our cities. by highlighting the ramp, baldauf draws shapes in the landscape that were always there but may have gone unseen, lending new meaning to an old but cherished landmark. gold is a color broadly associated with great value, and as the car park faces demolition to make way for renovation, there’s no better hue to give it one last facelift. 

more than anything, the installation wants to get people talking: ‘corrie’s artistic practice aims to encourage conversation with whoever she, or her work, comes into contact with,’ says becca pelly-fry, director of griffin gallery. ‘she imagines the world in such a way that engages people in her way of seeing, and leads to new avenues of thinking about our immediate surroundings.’

by highlighting the ramp, baldauf draws shapes in the landscape that were always there but may have gone unseen

while commemorating the rich history of the building, ‘gold zero’ applauds and encourages its transformation and growth. originally the home of BBC television, the television centre has had a colorful history over the years. with its roots still solidly in the entertainment industry, the complex is currently undergoing its greatest metamorphosis yet. the new iteration will feature up to 950 new apartments, 500,000 square feet of office space, a 47 bedroom hotel, independent cafés, restaurants, a cinema and, of course, a word-class television studio. 

‘gold zero’ is a simple but powerful way of celebrating the role of architecture in our cities

the circle was created using 200 litres of gold liquitex paint

the project highlight and celebrates the history of the tower ahead of its major new renovation of 2017

the project lends new meaning to an old but cherished landmark

‘gold zero’ applauds and encourages the building’s transformation and growth

originally the home of BBC television, the television centre has had a colorful history over the years

the complex is currently undergoing its greatest metamorphosis yet

the new iteration will feature up to 950 new apartments, 500,000 square feet of office space…

…a 47 bedroom hotel, independent cafés, restaurants, a cinema and, of course, a television centre

the installation marks the end of baldauf’s three month residency with the griffin gallery

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