V&A - DISOBEDIENT OBJECTS 2014
The external work consisted of two mosaic panels "collaging" photographic imagery from different protests positioned either side of the main entrance and tile work between the steps in an arch that shadowed the entrance archway. The steps read as lines of text using quotations by many different activists and political thinkers representing different periods and struggles.
This was the first time the V&A had commissioned new mosaic work in two decades. Carrie only had 48 hours to come up with the design proposal and less than one month to make and install the work. In order to create this work in such a short time frame she had to lead a team of the UK’s top mosaic artists. As a work of fine craft integrated into the architecture of the V&A, the work had the impact of "craftivism" – whereby the people were drawn to the beautiful surface and then surprised by the outspoken content.
In 2014 Carrie was commissioned by the Victoria and Albert Museum to create a "playful, provocative and sincere" mosaic intervention that would tell history from below and introduce alternative voices to the museum. It was to play on the grand authoritative façade of the V&A, to suggest protest has a dignified history just as the museum does. The external entrance pieces were commissioned to accompany and enhance the "Disobedient Object’s" exhibition – a show about the art of protest.
The thesis of this exhibition was that political disobedience drives powerful and innovative forms of making and that art and design are now integral tools for achieving social change through activism. This exhibition which also had Carrie's Tiki Love Truck, a mosaic truck, as its star exhibit, was attended by over 400,000 people making it the most popular show since 1945.
Flashbak - 5 Disobedient Objects That Epitomise The Spirit of 21st Century Protest
TIKI LOVE TRUCK 2007
Carrie Reichardt &
The Treatment Rooms Collective
On Saturday 8 September 2007, the UK’s first ever Art Car Parade saw 30 reconstructed vehicles take to the streets of Manchester in the name of creativity and fun. Amongst them was The Tiki Love Truck- a mobile mosaic mausoleum, commissioned by Walk the Plank.
Once conceptualised, the vibrant, Polynesian inspired design for the Tiki Truck was segmented and drawn onto separate brown paper templates. An indirect method of mosaic transfer was used, so that the tiles were temporarily fixed to the brown paper design, before being transferred to the Tiki Truck itself with a more durable adhesive. In total the truck took a team of five artists three months to complete.
During the making of the truck, Carrie received news that her friend, John Joe ‘Ash’ Amador, an inmate on death row, was to be executed. She decided to dedicate the truck to his memory and travelled to Texas with her friend and artistic collaborator Nick Reynolds. After bearing witness to Ash’s execution, Carrie and Nick Reynolds went with Ash’s body to a cabin in the local woods where Nick cast his death mask.
Ten days later, the Tiki Love Truck made its way through the streets of Manchester lined with thousands of spectators. Ash’s death mask took pride of place on the top of the truck. Commissioned by Walk the Plank for the first ever Art Car Parade, Manchester. The Tiki Truck was awarded The Makeover prize, for the most original or impressive applied decoration or feature.
The Tiki Love Truck has since toured the country and performed at various shows and exhibitions. This includes:
Illuminated Art Car Parade – Blackpool 2007 Glowmobile Art Car Parade – Gateshead 2007 ‘402’ Vibe Bar – London 2008 Glowmobile Art Car Parade – Gateshead 2008 Trash City – Glastonbury 2009 Camp Bestival – Lulworth 2009 Bestival – Isle Of Wight 2009 Illumniated Art Car Parade – Manchester 2009 Edinburgh’s Christmas Art Car Parade – Edinburgh 2009