LONDON.- Sculpture in the City, the dynamic yearly public art exhibition in the City of London, launched today with a curated selection of contemporary art pieces placed in and around the Square Mile. This year’s edition features works from internationally renowned artists including Damien Hirst, Sigalit Landau, and Bruce Beasley. In addition, an Ai Weiwei work will be installed in September to coincide with the Royal Academy’s much anticipated exhibition of this celebrated artist.

Now in its fifth year, the Sculpture in the City initiative enhances our urban environment with cutting-edge contemporary works from leading artists. Set amongst London's iconic architectural landmarks, such as Norman Foster’s Gherkin, The Leadenhall Building (aka The Cheesegrater), and the Lloyd’s building by Richard Rogers, this open-air exhibition not only enriches the workday experience of City workers but draws cultural visitors into this most ancient part of the city.

This year a total of fourteen works are transforming the EC3 insurance area. Historic Leadenhall Market is again serving as a dramatic backdrop, with Adam Chodzko’s Ghost (2010), a 22 foot wooden kayak, suspended from the ceiling of the ornate Victorian structure. The view of Damien Hirst’s monumental Charity (2002-2003), nearly seven metres tall, is framed by St. Helen’s Church and Gherkin, whilst Japanese artist Tomoaki Suzuki’s miniature figures, modelled after real Londoners, now populate the Gherkin plaza.

Two works by Kris Martin are on show this year- Bells II (2014) is being displayed publicly for the first time on the corner of Bishopsgate and Wormwood Street, and Altar (2014) also features on New York City’s The High Line.

Xavier Veilhan’s Rays (London) is a stunning 12-metre tall, site-specific piece framing the views between the Willis buildings. Another completely new work is Shan Hur’s Broken Pillar #12. The pillar contains an embedded vase the artist found at Half Moon Castle in Kyung-ju, Korea, which reminds him of the pillar’s location, St Helens Churchyard.

Participating artists for Sculpture in the City 2015 are: Ekkehard Altenburger (Germany); Bruce Beasley (USA); Adam Chodzko (UK); Laura Ford (UK); Damien Hirst (UK); Shan Hur (Korea); Folkert de Jong (Netherlands); Sigalit Landau (Israel); Kris Martin (Belgium); Keita Miyazaki (Japan); Tomoaki Suzuki (Japan); Xavier Veilhan (France); and Ai Weiwei (China).