Corporate Containment

The Grey Cardigan has finally reached his objective. He has been working on his modern art exhibit for some time.

A brief history
On the 8th of March 2007 at 15:03 he made an entry in his diary. It read "Coke Can situation - running out of space".

This was a pivetol moment in the design of his exhibit. The decision was not an easy one. Looking back through his design notes he saw that he had been collecting since August 2006. His initial investigations showed that he could fit five Coke cans snugly in an office desk pedestal drawer. What had started out as an experiment in spacial mechanics was now taking form and structure as a credible expression. A work of Art. Now the idea was fully developed, and that was part of the problem.

His collection of cans had made steady progress over the last six months but now that space was restricted, he could decide to complete the work to the original concept design or compromise by exhibiting early. It's a choice that many an artist faces when a deadline approaches.

Fortunately, he made the right decision and decided that quality over expediency was the proper course.

During the course of the next few days, he had an epiphany. A halloween doll was to be buried under the cans in the third drawer to symbolise the pressures of unorganised working in the office.

The work was now complete and is pictured for the first time here.

An early Arts Review
I discovered the exhibit by accident (by email actually), and found them to be profound and at the same time exhilerating. The covert nature of The Grey Cardigan's coke can exhibit is a fascinating concept. The way it first fails to speak to modern business culture by it's unobtrusive existance, then bursts forth as it slides into view is reminiscent of exactly the issues the exhibit seeks to illuminate. A brilliant piece of engineering realigns one of the cans whenever it is forced into line with the others - an amazing idea from this hitherto unknown artist.

The Grey Cardigan 1977 - xxxx
Corporate Containment (d. 2007)
Corporate Containment is a unique piece of modern sculpture that explores the balance of corporate wealth and its restrictions within its own social parameters, defining it juncture position against confinement and governance.

The exhibit is closed.









The choice of Coca-Cola as the cultural image is not accidental, not only does its colour heighten the inherited senses, but its highly recognised and multi-dimensional branding alerts the viewer to it dominance of its occupied domain. The organisation and structure of the cans in the first two smaller draws aims to demonstrate the carefully conceived and motivated dominance of it surrounds. The regiment and manipulated ranks of aluminium depict the materialist important of branding on our own society, exploring its depiction and ultimate successfulness.

The first drawer.




The second drawer.







The relaxed ethos of the third drawer is in direct contrast. The solitary branding still governs its vessel, but one get the overwhelming sense of freedom from the regimented ranks of its higher and implied superior "cousin" containers. The random and somewhat chaotic nature of this drawer reduces the impression of the icon, despite the heightened numbers of branded items. Ultimately the chaos gives the feeling that you could easily throw the odd Tango can in amongst it and things would still be as stable, but what effect would this have on the manipulate brand?




The third drawer.



The whole 3 drawer pedestal with pen tray removed.


Our star ratings
Profound? Certainly. *****
Is it Art? Definately. *****
Is it free to get in? Yes, for now. *****

Summary: This exhibit may not be around for long. We expect it to move to a more expensive gallery so see it while you can (no pun intended).