LONDON.- London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE today announced its latest contemporary art commission, London in its Original Splendour, by celebrated artist Pablo Bronstein. Opening 14 June, Bronstein’s new installation will envelop the Bloomberg SPACE gallery in a 3D rendered wallpaper inspired by historic design and architecture.

Situated on the site of Bloomberg’s new European headquarters, London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE returns the Roman Temple of Mithras to the location of its discovery in the heart of the City and offers visitors an immersive experience of the ancient temple as well as a chance to see a collection of the Roman artefacts found during the building excavations. Expanding on Bloomberg’s legacy of support for new commissions by international artists, the ground floor Bloomberg SPACE gallery aims to present lively and thoughtful works by contemporary artists whilst bringing fresh perspectives to the many layered history of the site.

Bronstein’s striking transformation of the street-level space will feature his most complex wallpaper design to date, rich in decorative and architectural motifs. Whole buildings, including exterior and interior areas will be rendered in great detail; while in the ‘distance’, expansive vistas appear to open up between buildings, revealing wider views of a fictionalised cityscape. Two temporary, angled walls have been integrated into the space to guide visitors as they ‘tour’ through Bronstein’s illusory environment.

Bronstein is known for erudite, beautifully executed and subtly witty drawings, structures and performances that reflect his vast knowledge of the aesthetic and social attributes of historical and neo-historical architecture. Historically, London in its Original Splendour has precedents in the elaborate visual effects and ‘temporary architecture’ devised by Renaissance and Baroque masters – often as stage design, or on the occasion of a grand procession or an elaborate wedding celebration. Bronstein’s fascination with architecture, ornamentation and the illusionism of perspective, extend from the 16th century designs of Sebastiano Serlio and Antoine Caron up to the post-modern practices of the later 20th century.

Drawing on a wide field of reference, from the archaeological artefacts found on the Bloomberg site to the design legacy of the nearby buildings of Christopher Wren, John Soane, Edwin Lutyens and James Stirling, Bronstein has characteristically stirred the pot of architectural history and styles – inviting visitors to join him in this uniquely immersive installation at London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE.

Born in Argentina in 1977, Bronstein studied at Slade School of Fine Art and Goldsmiths College, London and currently lives and works in London and Deal, Kent. Selected solo exhibitions includePablo Bronstein, Herald St, London (2018); Pablo Bronstein and the Treasures of Chatsworth, Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham and Chatsworth, Derbyshire (2015); We Live in Mannerist Times, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (2015); Enlightenment Discourse on the Origins of Architecture, REDCAT, Los Angeles (2014); A is Building, B is Architecture, Centre d’Art Contemporain, Geneva (2013); Sketches for Regency Living, Institute of Contemporary Art, London (2011); and Pablo Bronstein at the Met, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (2009). Commissions include Beach Hut in the Style of Nicholas Hawksmoor, Folkestone Triennial (2014) andBMW Tate Live: Performance Room, Tate Modern, London (2012).

London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE is free to visit and open to the public from Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm, and on Sundays and Bank Holidays from 10am to 5pm. Pre-booking is advised through www.londonmithraeum.com.