Welcome to Optimism

Our latest window ‘Welcome, #’

W+K London’s latest window display is ‘Welcome, #’; an installation which turns people into numbers in the digital world.

Aesthetically the installation is quite simple – a plain black curtain in the background with six laptops lined up across the window. There are some white footprints sprayed onto a pressure pad, encouraging people to stand in front of the window. When you stand there, the number counts your presence and participation, counting up by one whole digit. You’ll be greeted by a voice which welcomes you by your number which identifies you in the total. As people go up to inspect the window, the number on laptops will count upwards, recording how many people have stood outside it.

This window was created by The Kennedys, they say;

The aim is to explore the concept of art itself, of social interaction in person and online, of validation through ‘likes’ and ‘followers’ and the uneasiness of being treated like a number rather than a person. Most of all, it’s a test of curiosity and behaviour trends; will people follow others’ behaviour and step up?

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‘Welcome, #’ installation is currently available until the 30th November at W+K office.

First world tarot

W+K is updating tarot cards to tell modern day fortunes.

We’ve teamed up with the artist Stedhead to create a playful contemporary twist on traditional tarot cards. Each card has been redesigned to be relevant to today’s first world problems.

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The lovers card depicts our continuing dependence on dating apps to find love.

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The tower card for instance depicts the plight of the first time home buyer.

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The death card highlights the isolating and ridiculous fear we feel when no one likes our posts.

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Since the late 18th century, tarot cards have been used to prophesize big scary things like life’s fate & fortune. But in today’s modern society, first world problems seem to irrationally take up our time. We worry more about the exact amount of protein in us each day – we risk everything for the perfect cliff edge selfie.

The redesigned deck is being exhibited in an interactive fortune telling experience in W+K office on Hanbury Street.  So if you want to know what modern day horrors may befall you this week, such as how many followers you may lose, or how that tinder date will turn out, head over to our office and pick a card.

Visitors to the display will be able to discover the tarot deck, by placing their hand over a digital display that will enable users to select a card and its reading.

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The mystical window installation is completed with the use of a creepy soundtrack, designed by LFO Sound. The sounds are played through a glass transducing speaker system that works by vibrating the glass panes, turning the window itself into a giant speaker, that recites first world woes.

‘The first world tarot’ deck is exhibited for a week Monday 31st October until Wednesday 9th of November, and throughout Halloween at the W+K London office.

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