the Bins And Benches kept on getting intimate with the bike racks

Singing benches let loose in city.



Robotic bins that move and chuckle, benches that flock together and sing when the sun comes out, have been unleashed in Cambridge.

The Junction, one of the city's arts venues, unveiled the public arts display in the Plaza on Thursday 9th June. The "interactive" technology will allow the street furniture to respond to members of the public.

The six bins and six benches - which are solar-powered - were created by London artists, Greyworld. Andrew Shoben, from Greyworld, said: "At first glance it may look like nothing has changed at all but the bins and benches all have unique personalities.

"They are what's called "generative" so that over time they develop more and more personality.

"You'll find that one bench may be particularly attracted to a particular bin. They will chuckle and giggle sometimes or make rude noises."

Artistic and executive director of The Junction, Paul Bogen, said: "They're great because they're fun and art should be fun and it should be something people enjoy and not just stodgy and theoretical."

Mr Bogen hopes the cutting edge technology would help keep the bins and benches safe from theft.
The Junction has a three year maintenance contract with Greyworld and plans to name all the bins and benches individually to make carrying out repairs easier.

The project cost £110,000 and was funded by the Arts Council and the National Lottery.

from the BBC

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After displaying hints of anti-social (or should that be over-social?) misbehaviour during its launch on 9 June, Bins and Benches, The Junction's new public artwork, has temporarily been taken off display.

Junction observer, Gordon Glass, confessed that "the Bins And Benches kept on getting intimate with the bike racks and each other. In response, artists Greyworld felt that there was no option but to take Bins And Benches back to their rearing pens for some further TLC."

The artwork will be back on the Cambridge Leisure piazza, fully trained, better behaved, and ready for filming for the Richard & Judy show, on 24 June.

from the junction

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survey

Artistic Director, Paul Bogen, said of The Junction's new public artwork, Bins And Benches: "The aim was to create a groundbreaking work of pioneering art that would attract attention and engage wider interest in the potential or art and technology in public spaces. In keeping with The Junction's ethos, this isn't just about art - it is also about having fun".

What do you think - is it important to enjoy the arts?