Rana Begum shines light and color at UBS Broadgate

Known for her keen eye and unique observations of light, color, space and form, the UBS Art Collection has commissioned the London-based artist to create a site-specific iteration of her Mesh Cloud series for our UK Headquarters at 5 Broadgate.

“We've been following her work for a number of years now, and we were looking for the right opportunity to collaborate with her.” - Mary Rozell, Global Head of the UBS Art Collection.

At over 9-metres in length, the installation comprises of 26 brightly colored cloud-like forms suspended from the ceiling of the double height entrance to the building. Though the work is made using galvanized steel mesh and permanently positioned, it appears to float weightlessly and adds an illusion of movement through the vast open space.

“I love the idea that someone can walk past the work, and then notice something in the corner of the eye that's just activated either by the light or by the position in the space,” – artist Rana Begum.

Born in Bangladesh, the repetitive geometric patterns in the artist’s work combines inspiration from Islamic art, Minimalist abstraction, and the urban cityscape, as well as her childhood memories of the rhythmic repetition of daily recitals of the Qur’an.

The work is a permanent addition to the UBS Art Collection displays at 5 Broadgate, alongside two already realised major site-specific commissions by Cerith Wyn Evans (2019) and Michael Craig-Martin (2018).

“Rana is a master at color theory. Against the backdrop of the cityscape and sky, ‘No.1238 Mesh’ reveals itself slowly and has to be walked around to be fully experienced, making the viewer aware of their own physical connection with the space. I’ve curated the ground floor displays with the theme of ‘Light and Color’, and Rana’s work is the embodiment of that.” - Louise Evans, UBS Art Collection Regional Manager UK, Northern Europe, Middle East, and Africa and curator of the Broadgate displays.