Southampton's megaliner of the future, Queen Mary 2, has already been hailed as a masterpiece of shipbuilding, so it's only appropriate that the vessel will feature the best of today's works of art.
More than 5,000 individual, specially commissioned pieces of artwork will be prominently displayed in the Cunard ship's corridors, staterooms and public areas when she arrives in the docks for the first time in December this year.
In all, 128 artists from 16 countries will be responsible for 565 original works, 190 pieces of graphic art and 3,500 limited edition prints, which will make QM2 one of the world's most important galleries.
The responsibility for assembling the vast five-million-dollar collection has been given to Netherlands art consultant firm Onderneming & Kunst (Enterprise & Art), while London based marine interior design firms Tillberg Design and the Design Team created detailed specifications for the contract.
A Cunard spokesman said: "Queen Mary 2 is the largest passenger ship built, therefore it is only proper that she should possess an art collection worthy of her status."
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