The Sunbathers facts for kids
The Sunbathers is a famous sculpture. It was made by a Hungarian artist named Peter Laszlo Peri. He created it for a big event called the Festival of Britain in 1951. For many years, people thought the sculpture was lost. But it was found again in 2016! After being fixed up, it was shown at the Royal Festival Hall. Later, it moved to London Waterloo train station in 2020.
The Sculpture's Story
Its Early Days
Peter Laszlo Peri was an artist from Hungary. He was asked to make a sculpture for the Festival of Britain. This was a huge national show held in 1951. It took place on the South Bank of the River Thames in London.
Peri first suggested a very large sculpture. But it was too big for the spot. So, he made "Sunbathing Group" instead. This sculpture showed two people lying down. They were placed on a wall, looking as if you were seeing them from above.
The sculpture was made from concrete. Peri called this special concrete "Peri-crete." It was put on a wall at the entrance to the festival. This was near Waterloo station on York Road. A writer named Dylan Thomas saw the sculpture. He wrote about it after visiting the festival. After the festival ended, the sculpture disappeared. Everyone believed it was lost forever.
Found Again!
In 2016, Historic England had an art show. It was about art that had been lost. During this time, "The Sunbathers" was found! It was in pieces at The Clarendon Hotel in Blackheath.
The hotel owner, Joseph O'Donnell, had bought the sculpture. He bought it at an auction in the 1950s or 1960s. No one knows how this public artwork became private. Mr. O'Donnell first showed it at another hotel. Then he moved it to his new hotel in Blackheath. There, it was in the garden. Kids even used it as a climbing frame! Over time, the sculpture got damaged. So, it was taken away from public view.
People wanted to fix the sculpture. They raised £15,000 in just five days! Money came from the Heritage Lottery Fund and other groups. Tessa Jackson helped restore the artwork. She works for Jackson Sculpture Conservation Ltd.
After being fixed, the sculpture went back to the Southbank Centre. It was shown at the Royal Festival Hall for three years. In August 2020, it moved again. It is now on display for five years at London Waterloo train station. This new spot is very close to where it was first shown in 1951.
