The art of the supermarket
What is it about the shiny hallowed aisles of the supermarket that hold such allure? We’re admittedly retail obsessed and hold a special place in our collective hearts for purveyors of provisions. Now, what’s everyone else’s excuse? From immersive, experiential, ‘trippy’ grocery stores in the Nevada Dessert to an entirely knitted pharmacy a little closer to home, we wonder if our love affair with supermarkets will ever end.
SUPERMARKET, BY CAMILLE WALALA
While museums and art spaces may have only just begun to welcome us through their doors, the Design Museum had an ingenious way to keep their high street shop open during the lockdown. Created by Camille Walala with support from Bombay Sapphire gin, the installation has a clear message – creativity and art is important to everyday life and should be available to everyone.
Adorned in Camille’s signature visual style of bright pops of colour and geometric pattern anchored in a ubiquitous space, Supermarket is a showcase for essential items reimagined by a collection of emerging artists.
From the ever-present cup of tea, to morning porridge, washing up liquid, rice and (lockdown’s most popular staple) toilet paper, each item is for sale alongside a limited edition Bombay Sapphire gin and tonic bottle, created by artist and animation director Ruff Mercy.
“I wanted to do something a little bit pop and fun … I want to put a smile on people’s faces. I hope it will be joyful…We are all creative, but we might not realise it. We might go for a walk and pick up some nice flowers, we cook every day.”
Camille Walala
OMEGA MART
If you thought a fascination with the supermarket was an inherently British quirk, you’d be wrong. Nestled in the Nevada dessert sits an off-the-wall grocery store like no other. Created by the brilliant (and frankly bonkers) minds of Meow Wolf, an arts and entertainment group based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, comes Omega Mart.
Described as “an interactive, mind-bending art experience”, Omega Mart is an interactive, experiential space full of portals into surreal worlds and unexpected landscapes. It promises to take storytelling to a new level with performers posing as employees, hundreds of hours of video content and real products like Oh Those cereal, Tattoo Chicken and Influence in a Bottle. Much like the Design Museum, almost everything inside can be purchased.
Creative Partner, Pam, made a quick trip from Long Beach, California to Nevada to pay Omega Mart a visit in person.
“At first glance, everything looks like a normal supermarket, but after a few double takes you quickly realize that nothing is as it seems. From price tags and product packaging, to secret doorways in the refrigerators, everything was bizarre and unexpected. Omega Mart itself is actually just the entrance to a huge three-storey maze of experiential art installations from dozens of different artists.
The whole space is a like a choose-your-own-adventure playground. It was nice to see an activity that's usually part of our normal weekly routine flipped on its head and turned into something so playful and unexpected. I wish grocery shopping was always this much fun! And of course like all 'normal' supermarkets, all the products are for sale, allowing everyone to take home a reminder of the experience.”
ALL SEWN UP
Felt artist, Lucy Sparrow, took her craft to dizzying new heights when she created a fully stocked Cornershop installation in London’s East End in 2014. To bring her work right up to date with the zeitgeist, she turned her attention to another ubiquitous space – the local pharmacy. Dubbed Bourdon Street Chemist Cabinet, it is a fully replicated apothecary that showcases the artist’s painstaking attention to detail and cunning craftmanship. Each piece is meticulously handmade in felt with Sparrow herself serving as a white coat-wearing pharmacist.
After a four-year absence from the UK (having toured for years in New York, LA, Miami and Beijing) it’s no surprise that slots have booked up very fast. If you weren’t quick on the draw to visit in person, you may stand a better chance online. Ranging from everything from Prozac Face Masks to enamel badges and piece of the felt art themselves.
POP UP AND BLOOM
While these initiatives certainly push the boundaries of art and retail it’s exciting to see how they influence everyday grocery shopping. Pop Up Grocer don’t believe in settling down, that’s why they stay true to their name and pop-up at new locations showcasing products from new and emerging brands (like shopping an Instagram grid of your dreams, full of covetable food, drink, home, pet and body care items).
Botanical artist, Sophie Parker, is a frequent collaborator with the Pop Up Grocer – she specializes in plant based artworks and custom arrangements that give the spaces a whole new dimension. We asked Emily Schildt, Founder & CEO of Pop Up Grocer, about the role art can play in the supermarket space.
We've collaborated with artists across the US as we travel to different cities, since the start of our business. Our concept sees grocery, first, through the lens of creativity. We curate a narrow assortment of the newest products, with an innovative approach to their ingredients, format, and packaging. Thus, the art we feature inside our doors helps to build upon that filter and encourages the visitor to open their eyes and minds in all ways inside our spaces.
Emily Schildt, Founder & CEO, Pop Up Grocer.
We couldn’t agree more and one of the many great things about the Pop Up Grocer is that they use their platform to help brands achieve their goals – 5% of their sales in-store from each location go to a brand that needs a little boost.
OVER TO YOU, SUPERMARKETS
These are just some of the amazing ways the traditional grocery shopping experience has been elevated, reimagined and revolutionised. It’s interesting to see how the out of the box thinking of these spaces could trickle down into mainstream – much like a fashion show runway to the high street. It all starts with a big, ‘out there’, idea and a retailer brave enough to take a little risk on something that will create a unique, memorable experience for their customers. Whether that’s in the shop fit itself, the products it offers or something even more experimental. Whatever it might be – sign us up!
Have you had a wow moment at your local shop or seen art that takes its inspiration from the everyday objects of a supermarket? How do you think supermarkets can embrace the creativity of artists in their own stores? We’d love hear your thoughts – share with us @weareticketyboo on Instagram and Twitter.