I got the idea of The Moving Gallery while I was at the Reading Live Lab on Nov 1 2016. I had the great fortune to sit next to Tony Pettitt of Reading Buses and we started to chat about how things were going in town and the strong bond between his company and Reading communities. On Nov 2016, I was an MA student of Central Saint Martin studying Arts and Cultural Enterprises and eager to find opportunities to produce innovative cultural projects. Opening an art space in a town that doesn't have enough of them, involving a company in the effort of promoting the arts locally, occupying with the arts the local public transport; all of these insights came into my mind at once and, without overthinking it, I simply asked Tony 'What if a double-decker bus is transformed into an art gallery?'Tony unexpectedly said 'Yes, why not? Let's do it'. And our dialogue started. From there to here, the journey has been long and full of surprises. Thanks to MG, I got the chance to meet a great number of people, both inside and outside the art world. I experienced support, disapproval, interest, boredom, frustration, empowerment; a roller coaster of feelings, this MG has been. But I learnt a lot and I understood that producing culture is something that makes me feel better at the end of my day. I hope that MG will have the same effect on those who'll see it.
I was lucky enough to get the Moving Gallery on the way home from work on the no. 17 route. I hadn’t noticed as I was in a long line of people just getting on to the bus and had to go upstairs as it was crowded. I realised as I got upstairs and noticed the photos - and started taking photos of the buttons as they’re the work of my husband Tim. A couple of old ladies asked why I was taking photos of the buttons and I explained. One of the women said ‘we’ve just been discussing those. This is our favourite (the horizontal line with a semi circle on it) and she thinks its a sunset. I…
I was surprised how noticeably different the atmosphere was on the MG, compared to a standard bus. The range of art work became a talking point between strangers, with everyone noticing something slightly different - from the series of portrait photos that run throughout the bus, to the miniature pieces on the bus stop bell buttons. The replacement of advertising with much more thought provoking images and quotes allowed space for so much more thinking! I saw the MG on the launch weekend and am really keen to revisit it now it is in action, and see how people respond to the artwork as they go about their day. A subtle and fascinating project - huge congratulations for having brought…
The time I first heard the idea that a bus would be transformed into an art gallery I thought this was impossible. However, when I saw the bus on Sunday 11th December it looked as a really perfect art gallery. All spaces have been thought by photographers, video artists and graphic designers. I think that the best job was a vintage frame image that I could look out from inside the bus. Photographs and texts have presented a precious document for all Reading residents. The Moving Gallery is not only a collaborative job but also is a perfect design idea. Congratulations!
It was a pleasure to participate in the launch of the moving gallery on Saturday 10th December. The MG is a community initiative pushing the boundaries in terms of a place where art can be exhibited and how it can be accessed. Traditionally, people visit galleries to admire various art pieces. With the MG, the bus serves as a widely accessible gallery, making an everyday routine more pleasant and creating a sense of connection and a shared experience.