The artwork titled “Bbc Speakerthon” located at Broadcasting House in London is a sculpture by artist Eric Gill. It is in the Art Deco style, a movement known for its rich colors, bold geometric shapes, and lavish ornamentation. This particular sculpture belongs to the genre of bas-relief, which is a type of sculpture that has less depth to the faces and figures than they actually have, when measured proportionately (to scale).
The image shows a bas-relief panel, carved with three figures engaged in what appears to be a storytelling or broadcasting scene—an appropriate theme for the BBC. The leftmost figure is seemingly listening intently and holding a musical instrument, possibly a recorder, indicative of the auditory arts. The central figure is animatedly speaking or singing, engaged in the act of oration or performance, while the figure on the right seems to be in motion, either dancing or acting out part of the narrative or broadcast. The figures’ clothing and hairstyles have a stylized look that fits the Art Deco aesthetic, characterized by streamlining and an emphasis on linear and geometric forms.
