Three free art installations to visit in London this month.
Selfridges Celebrates: Bráulio Amado
Selfridges have commissioned Portuguese graphic designer and illustrator, Bráulio Amado, to create the artwork for this year’s Selfridges Celebrates initiative. Known for his distinctive, playful and colourful graphics, Bráulio takes inspiration from music, social media and meme culture, as well as finding a new perspective on the mundane things in life. Now based in a New York studio, Bráulio has produced posters for nightclubs, graphics for books and album artwork for the likes of Frank Ocean, Makeda and Roisin Murphy.
Bráulio Amado and Selfridges are working together on a suite of projects this year, including store installations and online creatives, featuring flyers from his personal archive. The partnership launches with Bráulio’s drawings being brought to life as sculptures, inflatable artworks and animation (by Scott Gelber) in the windows of the iconic department stores on London’s Oxford Street, as well as Manchester and Birmingham. To mark each of this year’s calendar celebrations, from Valentine’s Day to Halloween and the special occasions in between, Bráulio will be using his creativity and imagination to illustrate and animate moments of joy in-store and online.
400 Oxford St, London W1A 1AB
Flannels x W1 Curates: Alienated by Cem Hasimi
Public art platform W1 Curates, also located on the bustling Oxford Street, is a wrap-around tech, rendering the exterior of the Flannels’ London flagship store. Until 28 January, award-winning artist Cem Hasimi took over the platform with his ‘Alienated’ exhibition. Injecting colour and energy into London’s Oxford Street, the exhibition takes viewers on an immersive journey through an expansive and unfamiliar universe, capturing the experience of an astronaut seeking their home planet.
Born in Turkey, Cem Hasimi embarked on his artistic journey in London as an award-winning art director, where he skillfully crafted captivating narratives for leading brands. This experience set the stage for his eventual transition into the world of digital art and animation, enabling him to incorporate his personal experiences into his creative work. His art, a blend of insight and innovation, has been celebrated for its authenticity and depth by audiences from New York to Lisbon.
161-167 Oxford St, London W1D 2JP
Outernet Presents: The Butterfly Trail
Europe’s largest digital exhibition space, Outernet (on London’s Charing Cross Road), is currently exhibiting a world-first, mixed reality experience; The Butterfly Trail. Pushing the boundaries of digital design, the innovative trail guides visitors through explorer Peter Pelgrin’s Botanical Workshop and into his Glass House where they can further explore and interact using their smartphones. Visitors can use their phones to unleash enchanting AR butterflies and trigger live animations, including the opportunity to hold their very own butterfly in the palm of their hand.
The Butterfly Trail launched in September, but following huge success and public demand, Outernet will be continuing the exhibition for the foreseeable future. The breathtaking display takes over the four-storey high space, playing on the world’s most advanced screens, making it a truly immersive and unique experience.
Charing Cross Rd, London WC2H 8LH
