A Celebration of Heritage, Imagination, and Public Art
We are thrilled to announce the unveiling of Cascade, a monumental new artwork by acclaimed British artist Shezad Dawood, commissioned by Cadogan and curated by Futurecity. Newly installed on the façade of the iconic Gaumont cinema now reimagined as the front of a new cultural and commercial development on the King’s Road. Cascade reflects on the area’s historic past and vibrant creative spirit for the 21st century.
A Site-Specific Work Inspired by Cinema, Storytelling & Chelsea’s Icons
Cascade is a large-scale ceramic diptych, comprising two 6x3m panels made of 74 sculpted and hand-painted tiles. Inspired by James Abbott McNeill Whistler’s Nocturne in Black and Gold and cinematic pioneer Georges Méliès’ A Trip to the Moon, the piece features abstracted fireworks, moon phases, and celestial motifs. It draws on the historic façade’s past as the site of the Gaumont Palace Theatre, reanimating the same spaces where early film titles once lit up the street.
The work nods to Chelsea’s gothic literary heritage (Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley), fashion revolutionaries (Mary Quant, Vivienne Westwood), and experimental artists like Len Lye – forging a poetic link between past and present.
”I feel deeply connected to the area on various levels, from first seeing the Seven Samurai with my dad at the Chelsea Cinema as a kid, to one of my first jobs at a bookstore on the King’s Road – then of course there is the broader cultural importance of the area, as a home to various artists, writers and filmmakers. As an artist who works across painting, ceramics and film I am so excited to be invited to create an artwork for the façade of such an iconic building that was also a key part of my cinematic education.” Shezad Dawood, Artist
By day, Cascade acts as a quasi-sundial, casting shifting shadows as the sun passes overhead. By night, it’s lit to dramatic effect - a kinetic spectacle of light and storytelling.
Futurecity: Culture + Place
Futurecity is proud to have curated this permanent commission, working closely with Cadogan and an expert advisory panel (which included representatives from the V&A, Chelsea Arts Club, the Royal Society of Sculptors and local people) and which identified Dawood as the ideal artist to capture the strong narrative offered by the cinema and its iconic location in the Kings Road.
Our curatorial approach focused on placing great art at the heart of the area’s strong cultural history and heritage, embedding storytelling, memory, artistic excellence and design.
“We are delighted to be part of this ground-breaking art and architecture commission and to have been given the opportunity by Cadogan to curate an artist of Shezad Dawood’s prominence to produce Cadogan’s first permanent artwork on the iconic King’s Road. The integration of this artwork into The Gaumont building will serve as a creative marker, delivered through close collaboration with the designers and developers of this fabulous building.” Mark Davy, Founder & CEO of Futurecity
The Gaumont: A New Creative Quarter for Chelsea
This launch marks a major milestone in the opening of The Gaumont, a landmark £235m redevelopment by Cadogan. As part of a wider vision to create a new cultural cluster on Chelsea Manor Street, the building includes a cinema, rooftop bar, retail, and a hub for independent creatives.
Cascade sets the tone for what’s to come – anchoring the development with a bold and beautiful public artwork that reflects the area’s layered histories and future aspirations.
