Slipstream, Aluminum sculpture at Terminal 2, Heathrow Airport, United Kingdom
Slipstream is an aluminum sculpture in Terminal 2 at Heathrow Airport that stretches over 70 meters through the terminal. The structure displays twisting forms that represent the movement of an aircraft through the sky.
Richard Wilson created the work in 2014 as part of the Terminal 2 reconstruction project. The artwork represents a major milestone for contemporary art installations in European airport terminals.
The sculpture merges flight technology with contemporary art, showing how engineering and creativity work together in a public space. Visitors can observe how modern artworks shape everyday experience at an airport.
The work sits between passenger walkways and serves as an orientation point for travelers on different terminal levels. The 77-tonne installation is easily accessible and requires no special preparation to view.
Engineers used computer programs from the aerospace industry to calculate the complex curves of the structure. This specialized technology allowed them to translate the flowing forms precisely into aluminum.
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