Call for Protection for Chiswick's Underpass Art

Subways beneath A4 could be made into public galleries

"Monochromatic Ennui with Lacanian Lapis" by Styx at the Dukes Avenue underpass

April 1, 2023

Concerns are being raised for the future of significant pieces of public art in Chiswick underpasses with calls for greater attempts to protect local heritage.

Many residents pass the Mark Rothko style paintings in the subways used to cross the A4 unaware they are the work of Styx, a guerilla artist who echoes the rectangular colour fields of the American painter.

Literally a work of underground art, the murals can be seen at number of crossing points including at Dukes Avenue and Black Lion Lane. Now there are calls for greater protection for the paintings with some suggesting the underpasses be made public galleries.

Spaniard Styx, whose real name is Juan-Abril Embaucar, eschews the vivid colours of Rothko for a study in immersion. The textures are unexpected – a gritty roughness counterpoints the smooth, meditative gaze demanded by the scale.

Those with less fine artistic sensibilities have been passing by what art critics are hailing as a collection of work that should be regarded as one of the UK’s most significant piece of public art, believing that the transformation of the utilitarian space was carried out by council workers trying to obscure graffiti. This lack of discernment means that many people who use he underpass every day as a place of hurried commutes and nervous glances have failed to recognise how it has become a sanctuary of contemplation. The immensity of the murals forces viewers to slow down, their eyes drawn into the interplay of light and shadow on the uneven canvas.

"NFT Indigo with Gentrify Grey" by Styx at the Black Lion Lane underpass

Increasing awareness of Styx’s work may present challenges however and leading figures in the art world are calling for greater levels of public protection. There are fears that, as with Banksy, admirers may pay to have the murals illegally removed from the underpasses to add to their private collections. Additionally, concern has been raised that pollution from the A4 may be causing irreparable damage to the work.

Avril Amadan, Assistant Curator of Emotional Resonance at the Institute for the Promotion of Beige Aesthetics (IPBA) says, “Public art has thankfully moved away from jejune representative works such as the Hogarth statue on Chiswick High Road to work such as this by Styx which says something much more profound about the human condition. However, the under appreciation must urgently end or we are facing an unparallel disaster which future generations will curse us for. There needs to be a climate-controlled environment and 24-hour security to protect this precious asset.”

Proposals have been drawn up for consultation as to how this could be achieved including how it would be paid for. There are understood to be a number of art foundations and collectors willing to put up part of the funds needed but the Art Council, Highways England and Hounslow Council would also be required to contribute. Although it is recognised that the underpasses play a key role in allowing residents to cross a busy dual carriageway, access restrictions would need to be introduced. The cost of an air filtration system, appropriate lighting and security is estimated at just £7million per underpass which could be offset by a small usage charge of as little as £1 per crossing. This would also bring significant economic benefits to the area with millions of extra visitors expected to arrive from all over the world.

'Passive-Aggressive Platinum with Miscegnated Magolia' by Styx in the Dukes Avenue underpass

The artist however is adamantly opposed to such scheme as the settings poor air quality, the sense of neglect and a faint smell of urine are integral to his work. Although, he doesn’t protect his anonymity to the same extent as Banksy, Styx rarely makes public statements but he did grant us a brief interview in which he went into details about his method.

He said, “My work is a testament to the power of art to transform the mundane, and a reminder that beauty can bloom even in the most unexpected places. My aim is to transform these neglected spaces, imbuing them with a quiet grandeur. The impermanence adds another layer – a fleeting beauty amidst the city's relentless thrum. Those seeking to protect my work would only destroy it through their ignorance.”

The theme of neglect is reflected in his colour choices with his deliberate choice of the least popular shades in the Farrow and Ball range. Not only do these paints such as Autumn Taupe and Oatmeal Magnolia capture the sense of alienation he wishes to convey but they can be picked up at a discounted price.