29.01.2019
I had a short trip to Prague, Czech Republic, this week and whilst I was there I noticed that in contrast to all their traditional Gothic and Renaissance style buildings, it was quite an urban and contemporary city. A few shop window displays seemed to blur the line between an art installation and  a decorated window. Using technology and screens as an aid to catch passer by's attention, one shop really struck me as innovative and creative with the props and items used to accessorise their shop display.
In one of the city centre's streets I also came across an art installation of a fishing net holding an assortment of plastic bottles and litter, lit with some colour correlating lights. As the piece was high up it was easily missable, which I think coincides with the possible message. As a culture we seem to know about the damage plastics are causing our environment and wildlife (especially in the more recent years) but seem to do nothing about it. Research and activists are providing us access to crucial information that we should be pursuing, but as this causes extra effort in our daily routines, we choose wilful ignorance over action. By having this statement piece there but easily missable or easily ignored it provides us a window to see how we know about the problem but choose to ignore it. Seeing activist art pieces tackling the same themes in a different country reinforces that this is a worldwide problem that needs action, but also excites me and gives me faith that little by little we can make a difference and encourage change.
During my stay we also visited the Prague Castle where they had staged scenes of what life for the workers in the Castle would have been like in the early 1900's. This was also helpful for me to see how they filled the space with different objects and props to make the area look lived in and natural. This is the effect I want to create and it was helpful to see different types of spaces who have similar intentions, and get a grasp of techniques I can implement myself.

15.01.2019
After having a meeting with AirSpace's curator Glen on the 10th, I was able to really home in on what I wanted to say in my exhibit and get an idea of past window exhibitions to see how mine would compare.
I had seen on the Selfridges website that they were engaging in a creative campaign, State of The Arts, bringing art to unexpected places. From my last visit to Selfridges I was able to delve into their window displays for Christmas and I was excited to now see window displays that directly link to my vision.
Featuring art in their Oxford Street windows is a fantastic way to bring public art to a community, but also brings an exciting new way to experience art. This helps making it more accessible and broadens the audience you will reach, including some who may not normally visit galleries or experience art in a more traditional way. It also changes the way the art is viewed and the relationship with the viewer. Simon Periton explains that "The work will be experienced in glimpses and that's where a public artwork is different to putting a piece in a gallery". When visiting a gallery you expect to spend at least a few hours (potentially a whole day), spending time examining the art and reading the different emotions it gives you, where if you're riding the bus or walking past you really do have seconds. This creates a certain pressure and responsibility for the artist to grab the viewers attention as quick as they can and hold it for as long as they can. This grab and go, fast food style of exhibiting is new and exiting but also challenging.
Collaborating with some of the UK's leading galleries and critically acclaimed artists they have also created a 'corner shop' inside where you can buy a sculpture or painting as if it is a bag of crisps and a can of lemonade. I was shocked to see some of Jeff Koons' small balloon animals on sale amongst sketchbooks and pencils as if it belonged there.
Cass Art have also teamed up in the 'corner shop' where they are selling artist tools and mediums that customers can take home and try themselves, also putting on daily workshops or talks at 14:00 where anyone can join and get creative or involved with important conversations about the world of art. Again, this is opening up the (what sometimes feels closed) community of artists and art lovers showing that all is welcome, from established artists to someone walking by who just wanted to join in.
Although the work in the window was in a very different space to a gallery setting, they still had the same white cube feel with crisp white walls, feeling very clinical. It was great for me to see a similar use of a shop style scene but to also get some ideas on how I would do it differently.

http://selfridges.com/GB/en/features/articles/selfridges-guideto/state-of-the-arts