September 6th will see the installation of a huge new permanent art piece in Southwark.
The 48 metre x 3 metre "vandal-proof" mural, created by Turner prize nominee Ian Davenport, will be positioned under Western railway bridge near Blackfriar's Road, making a bright splash in an otherwise grey area.
The artist had to have the panels made up in a German factory as it was "the only place in the world that could supply the especially devised graffiti-proof vitreous enamel paints in the industrial quantities required".
"It has certainly been a very tough commission," Davenport says, relaxing in his studio a few weeks before the official unveiling next month. "The amount of paint needed was phenomenal. And a public artwork is very different from a private one.
"It's been about a year and a half getting all the consents. We had to do endless tests. There's a one in a billion chance someone might fall over because they don't like the colour yellow, and other ridiculous considerations."
With a staggering 1.2 million people apparently travelling under the bridge every day, we can only hope the falling over is kept to a minimum.
'Poured Lines' is unveiled on September 6; an exhibition of prints associated with the project will be on show at the Alan Cristea Gallery, 31 Cork St, London W1S (020 7439 1866) from September 13
