Sail away: Floating interactive artwork lights up Canary Wharf
OFFICE workers with a window seat in Canary Wharf can amuse themselves, until 15 February, with interactive art installation The Voyage.
The 300 illuminated boats that comprise the piece can be seen floating in the Wharf’s Middle Dock; and any bored bankers can change the colours and patterns of the lights from their mobile phones.
To interact with the art – connect to the Voyage Wi-Fi network and follow instructions on the voyage.co.uk website.
■ Oh the mixed blessing that is social media. At best a cheap marketing tool, but at worst (and in the wrong hands) a public relations ticking timebomb – as HMV is discovering. The music retailer, which is now in administration, felt the wrath yesterday of disgruntled employees who chirped from the @hmvtweets account “We’re tweeting live from HR where we’re all being fired!” and minutes later: “Just overheard our marketing director (he’s staying, folks) ask ‘How do I shut down Twitter?’” #cringe anyone?
■ The rather bullish campaign to advertise The View, the gallery from the gods at the top of the Shard, launches today. With the punchy taglines “Stop Staring Up. Start Looking Down” and “London’s Highest and Best View” it is no surprise to learn that the masterminds behind it are Clive Yaxley and Jerry Gallager from M&C Saatchi, the agency responsible for the famous (and much parodied) Vote Conservative adverts. The bold election posters bearing a large image of Gordon Brown’s face alongside the words “I doubled the national debt” and “I let out 80,000 criminals” – “Vote for me” certainly embody the Saatchi brand’s mantra of brutal simplicity.