Electric Avenue (Sitegeist)
Islington's
Upper Street currently boasts a fine example of multi-message art which
flirts with psychology, perception and promotion. Abigail Parkin (15 Jan'09)
A dour billboard on the street is now ablaze with colour thanks to artists Rob and Nick Carter who created the unique billboard art installation. The "Read Colours Not Words" billboard went on display at the end of December and promotes the nearby London Art Fair staged from 14-18 January at the Business Design Centre.
Spouses
and art partners the Carters are renowned for their use of light as an
expressive medium. Their specially commissioned light installation used
the commercial advertising billboard as its frame while colourful
visuals introduce Technicolor word play.
Underpinned by the Carter's view that “language is abstract until you learn to read” the work aims to engage the audience in the semantics and the visual appearance of words.
Words are presented in neon across the colour spectrum with the twist that colours don't correspond to descriptions eg. the word "blue" glows orange.
The
resulting visual vernacular presents a perceptual challenge that
exploits the Carter's "painting with light" ethos and paves the way for
the London Art Fair. The artists' client list is itself illuminated by
collectors including Sir Elton John, David and Victoria Beckham, Simon Fuller, Philip Treacy, Matthew Williamson and Kevin Spacey.
RK _________________________________________