Market 800 Digital
Celebrating Loughborough Market for its 800th anniversary year
Artists Statement
A market is much more than a place to buy produce and goods, it is the heart and soul of a community. As artists we celebrate heritage and community through creating interactive digital works inspired by the uniqueness of a place. Market 800 Digital celebrates the Loughborough Market’s rich and vibrant history by reflecting on how people feel about and interact with the market now, 800 years after it began.
We created a bespoke contemporary response to the Market 800 project by placing a market stall in the centre of a virtual scene circled by key iconic buildings and structures in Loughborough. Buildings were created by mapping out details that would give the audience enough information to understand their significance in place making.
Using words and portrait photographs collected by the Engagement Team and inspired by images of current market stalls we created an interactive environment where viewers can switch between fictional stalls, explore the words of what local people think about the market, and view their portraits. You can change the scene from night today as a homage to the long hours and hard work of traders who support a marketplace week in week out and in all weathers. Designed for touch screen and published online, the viewer can literally touch and drag the screen to explore or pinch to zoom in for more detail.
Market 800 Digital offers a provocation to get people thinking, talking, reading, and reflecting about their own relationship with Loughborough market – its importance as a place to explore, meet, socialise, and buy local.
We welcome your comments and reflections by using the hashtag #market800. The digital installation is also available to explore on your computer or device.
"A perfect blend between information, education and play."
