In March, W+K London will open Makers’ Residency, a curated creative work space at the office gallery space. We’ll collaborate with local makers and provide work space for them to create, exhibit and trade; as well as celebrating and sharing their talent with the public. The first artist to join Makers’ Residency is Daniel David Freeman, a mixed media artist based in London.

Dan has previously illustrated for Frank Ocean and Adidas, designed T-shirt graphics for 4ad and Boiler Room. He has also created animations for Converse and exhibited works on paper at two solo exhibitions at London’s former Beach Gallery. His latest work combines his interests in East Asian textiles and military folk art traditions. The work on show will consist of a series of converted and adapted ready made flags, vintage military fatigues and antique handmade Japanese kimonos. Dan has used embroidery, acrylic paint and enamel paint to create a series of (some more than others) ‘wearable’ artworks under the moniker ‘Expensive Shit.’ This ongoing project also includes Japanese fishing boat flags and a series of ‘battle flags’ from the Vietnam war. By embroidering these formerly functional pieces with found icons and imagery the artist has used a kind of textile collage to elevate them into works of art.

Makers’ Residency will be located in the large window on Hanbury Street at Wieden+Kennedy’s London office. Passers-by will be able to view the work space from the street throughout the residency. The gallery space will be available to view only by appointment and accompanied by the artist.

Our first window display of 2017 is ‘Space Oddity – a visual deconstruction’ which uses data to create a tribute to the work of David Bowie on the one-year anniversary of his death.

Conceived by designer Valentina D’Efilippo and researcher Miriam Quick, and curated by W+K, the project visualises musical data from Bowie’s 1969 track ‘Space Oddity’ as a series of 10 specially engraved records, with accompanying large scale art prints and projection. Each 12-inch disc deconstructs the track in a different way: melodies, harmonies, lyrics, structure and underlying story are all transformed into compelling visual imagery that inhabits the broken interstellar world of the song.

An innovative moving image piece is projected into the W+K window space, taking viewers on an immersive journey through Bowie’s famous track.

Our producer Gen, who works as curator of this project commented “Bowie was always looking ahead to integrate art and technology. With this exhibit, we seek to not only commemorate a great artist but also take inspiration for our own artistic exploration of his work.”

“We are so pleased to join the topical conversation of Bowie that has been taking place and hope we leave viewers with a new appreciation for the artist and his work.”

Space Oddity – a visual deconstruction is being exhibited at W+K London office until the 23rd January 2017.

You can follow @Oddityviz on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #oddityviz.

The records and art prints are available for sale here, with all profit going to charity.