Necessary Distractions: Office Art

Quite the commentary on the workplace! “What I do at work when I’m supposed to be working” is the title of an installation created by artist David Fullarton as his contribution to an installation project called Sisyphus Office. The project’s aim was to “highlight art as an integral and necessary distraction in our day to day life. Its about recognizing the comedy in the tragedy of the day to day and then waking up again to do the same thing all over again the next morning.”

Fullarton’s exhibit was installed in the offices of Houston radio station 90.1 KPFT. It consisted of a number of small, text based works that were made entirely from office supplies. These were then  pinned up randomly around the office workspace, appearing without warning amongst the notices, flyers and memos that were already existing in that environment. 

Advertisement

Guerilla Installations: Swing on Subway

Since I live in Hong Kong, I spend a lot of time on the subway. And although it’s very convenient and fast, fellow-commuters aren’t the most inspiring or cheerful company you can imagine, right?! A couple of years ago a group of people installed three swings overnight on a BART train in San Francisco. Look how everyone is laughing and connecting because of those swings!

I truly believe that change in the everyday monotonous routine, makes people happier, creative and more talkative! Unfortunately the Metro-people removed those swings almost immediately. But in the spirit of this guerilla installation, Caroline Woolard developed a DIY metro-swing. Disguised as a bag, you can take it with you wherever you plan to go and it can be hooked around the handrails very easily. Check out this little youtube movie.

Why I would like to try this in Hong Kong? Of course to connect with others in a fun way but also to make a bit more room for myself, when people violate my private space;-). A win-win situation, right?