Winner announced - Alfred Arcade banner commission

Posted: 17/03/2022

We recently asked you to vote for your favourite artwork for the next Alfred Arcade banner commission and we’re delighted to announce that with 46% of votes, the winning proposal is DO YOU WANT WHAT YOU WANT? by Signe Eliza Pook. 

Inspired by Slavoj Zizek’s ‘Coke’ Analogy as discussed in The Sublime Object of Ideology, DO YOU WANT WHAT YOU WANT? explores today’s high image and content consumption through social media and other digital material, and its strength to affect realms beyond its own. The piece acts as a playful intervention for consumer and product, representing the voice of an outsider who is at privilege to call out and pose the question, do you really want the things that you want.  

Signe’s thought-provoking work will be installed at the back of the Alfred Arcade overlooking the railway tracks and will offer a message to locals, commuters and visitors to Southampton by inviting them to reflect on habits of consumption and question the idea of want versus need.

The banner will be revealed at a launch event on Friday 22nd April on Old Northam Road, in conjunction with the opening of a new RIPE exhibition by artist Katie Mullender. The event will be free to attend and we’ll be sharing more details over the next few weeks.