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Sadiq Khan and David Shrigley launch #LondonIsOpen campaign on the tube

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British artist David Shrigley and London mayor Sadiq Khan have launched a series of artist-designed posters for the London underground, which declare that the city will not cut itself off from the rest of the world. Featuring artwork by the Glasgow-based Shrigley and nine other artists, including Tania Bruguera, Gillian Wearing and Mark Titchner, the #LondonIsOpen campaign will be displayed in all 270 stations across the London Underground network. The campaign forms part of Transport for London's contemporary art programme, “Art on the Underground,” and will include large-scale posters and digital displays.

*Four pieces have been revealed thus far. Called “London: Everyone Welcome,” Shrigley's own poster graphics feature the artist's distinctive hand-drawn style. London is written in black, while coloured sketches of the world replace the letter O. The artwork will be displayed on multiple sites across the London Underground, as well as featuring on limited-edition Oyster card holders.

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Photographer Gillian Wearing's “Work Towards World Peace” artwork, which is designed to be displayed on digital escalator panels, is an image of a couple holding a sign emblazoned with the title.

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Cuban installation and performance artist Tania Bruguera, meanwhile, has created an image of Pangea, the single supercontinent that split 300 million years ago, alongside the statement “Dignity has no nationality.” Entitled “The Francis Effect,” the work aims to address issues of immigration and citizenship and will be displayed on LCD digital screens.

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Finally, the London-based artist Mark Titchner has created an animated work using the slogan “No them only us.” It will be displayed on the Brixton station header wall and as a digital video on cross-track projectors on station platforms. Six more pieces by Sol Calero, Alexandre da Cunha, Jeremy Deller, Hew Locke, Indra Khanna and Bedwyr Williams are also included in the campaign, which will be displayed from September.

Sadiq Khan launched the initiative with the aim to show that London is both united and open to the world, despite the UK's vote to leave the European Union. He explained: “Art is a hugely powerful way to say that London is open; open for business, open to ideas, and open to the people from across the world who have chosen to live and work here. We've asked some of the world's leading artists like David Shrigley to help us communicate the simple but vital message that, despite the uncertainties around Brexit, London will remain an international city that embraces and celebrates diversity, a city where everyone is welcome, and a city that will not cut itself off from the rest of the world.”

Shrigley added: “We need to send a message loud and clear that whoever you are, and whatever your background, London is still open to you. As artists we see every day that our city's vibrancy and success is intrinsically linked to being open to people and ideas from across the world.”

London was one of the only regions in England to overwhelmingly vote remain. Since the result, Khan has undertaken discussions with the British government to ensure that the city maintains its close ties to the European Union. The mayor's office is making a push to protect London businesses from the fallout of the EU referendum, which has included appointing a new deputy mayor to focus on policies that boost the city's creative industries.

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