The Smile Project is the latest project from non-profit organisation Wasted Spaces; having made it a challenge to transform vacant properties (as well as other weird and wonderful spaces), into exciting art experiences. Their idea is to create platforms for emerging artists and cunning creative thinkers (which is what they are), to engage communities through live ‘real-space’ installations.
Wembley has been the focal location so far, with three projects to date having livened up an otherwise dull part of London (come on – there’s no sugar coating it – we’re talking about Wembley!). Previous projects include the Hello Wall and the Wembley Wall Project – both using a huge, well - wall - (didn't see that one coming did you?). All this with the hope to project a little joy to the local community. Touching isn't it? The Hello Wall was designed to allowed people to interact with the wall via Twitter by Tweeting commands to @thehellowall, using shapes (triangles, squares, circles), commands (more, less, shake) or just say hello@thehellowall.
The Wembley Wall Project then showcased the digital work of three internationally renowed artists – David Dope, Robert Hodgin and Rafael Rozendaal. This definitely livened up an otherwise dead wall space and brought a little wonderment to Wembley. Thank god.
Wembley has been the focal location so far, with three projects to date having livened up an otherwise dull part of London (come on – there’s no sugar coating it – we’re talking about Wembley!). Previous projects include the Hello Wall and the Wembley Wall Project – both using a huge, well - wall - (didn't see that one coming did you?). All this with the hope to project a little joy to the local community. Touching isn't it? The Hello Wall was designed to allowed people to interact with the wall via Twitter by Tweeting commands to @thehellowall, using shapes (triangles, squares, circles), commands (more, less, shake) or just say hello@thehellowall.
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| The Hello Wall |
The Wembley Wall Project then showcased the digital work of three internationally renowed artists – David Dope, Robert Hodgin and Rafael Rozendaal. This definitely livened up an otherwise dead wall space and brought a little wonderment to Wembley. Thank god.
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| Wembley Wall Project |
With so many people showing skepticism and as a result excluding themselves from the art world, it was about time someone brought a little creativity to the public direct. We all know London can be a drab place, so if we can use art and digital media to allow us to escape reality (even just for a little while), isn’t it worth a shot? So many of us complain of having a mundane and repetitive routine (doing and seeing the same stuff day in and day out) - isn’t it a great idea to then stir things up and give us something inspiring to look at - something that makes us break away from our normal niggling thinking and even make us smile? With the aptly named Smile Project this is what Wasted Spaces in provoking us to do (albeit subliminally) with their latest activity. By planting random obscure installations and interventions across Wembley, the idea is simple – to make passers by 'smile' and as a result, try to liven up our somewhat cynical nation (don't get all defensive - you know exactly what I'm talking about!)
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| The Smile Project (Aaaah!) |
I hope you all join me in a sigh of relief that this creative and thought provoking bunch are actually making the effort to snap us out of the doom and gloom, that we Londoners are famous for. To get a real flavour of these exciting projects, check out the video clips at the Wasted Spaces website or on Vimeo and repeat after me **Sigh**
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