Art that celebrates the best of town

ART that celebrates Reading has been revealed, as work to transform a closed department store at The Oracle continues, writes James Aldridge, local democracy reporter.

House of Fraser closed in October last year. Since then, artwork that celebrates the town has been used to obscure work that will transform the store into a bowling centre, fashion retailer and a new store.

At Riverside level, a mural celebrates ‘the three Bs of Reading’: beer, biscuits and bulbs referring to three major companies that made Reading their homes; H & G Simonds brewers, Huntley & Palmers biscuit makers, and Sutton and Sons.

The mural is the work of Global Street Art, by a team led by artist Kamil Dadon.

The artwork on the lower mall shows a little girl feeding bread to river birds, a nod to the River Thames and Kennet which meet in Reading.

The work” is the creation of Curtis Hylton, and features swans, ducks and geese made out of flowers.

At the upper mall, shoppers can see a homage to Reading Festival, represented by a woman enjoying music among a crowd.

The most recent piece, is the work of artist Epod.

They said: “I wanted to create a scene that captures the atmosphere and energy of the Reading location, focusing on a joyful individual in the crowd who is completely taken by the moment and the music, and is in a state of euphoria.”

The ‘three Bs of Reading’ mural, celebrating 226 years of industrial heritage, obscures the work to transform the lower level of the House of Fraser and YO Sushi into Hollywood Bowl.

The operators of the bowling company recently won permission to open until 12.30am each night.

The transformation was enabled after The Oracle operators Hammerson won permission to divide the former House of Fraser unit from Reading Borough Council.

Planning consent was granted last September, prior to the closure of the department store.

You can view the approved application by typing reference 230682 into the council’s planning portal.