Artists and designers create ‘worthless’ items

A host of designers and artists including Tracey Emin, Jon Burgerman and consultancy McFaul Studio, will work together in pop-up shop, Worthless, at London’s Seven Dials, where the public are invited to bring in pieces of junk which will be transformed into art.  

Josef Valentino in front of Worthless
Josef Valentino in front of Worthless

Worthless, a pun on the demise of Woolworths, is the idea of Josef Valentino, creative director of art company Pollocks. He says, ‘Some of them [artists and designers] are bringing their tools and soldering equipment down.’

Customers at the ‘shop’ will bring an item, which will be anonymously redesigned by one of the artists or designers involved. The individual will then buy back their transformed piece, paying for what they believe it to be worth.  

‘It could have been done by Tracey Emin, or a student. They won’t know,’ says Valentino.

‘It’s also a comment on the art market as well as on people’s perception of worth,’ he adds.

Money generated from sales will be split between Pollocks and the artists. Selected items will be auctioned off and profits given to the MS Society.

The public is invited to bring in their junk from 22-29 May to the shop, on Endell Street, WC2, which is to be fitted out as a department store. 

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  • Reggie Perrin November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    I came up with this concept 30 years ago!

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