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Morrison's in Tunbridge Wells is now host to 500 hidden artbooks

13:00, 10 June 2014

500 small art-books have become hidden among the frozen peas, baked beans, fruit and veg and deli counter of a local supermarket.

Morrison's supermarket in Tunbridge Wells has become home to the collection of art. Each book contains drawings of the new, broken, treasured and fleeting things that artist, Simon Faithfull encounters in his life.

Including images chosen from the past thirteen years, the books also represent newer work made from Faithfull's observations in Morrison's Supermarket.

'Things' among the veg
'Things' among the veg

Every hidden book is patiently waiting for a chance discovery by a shopper and contains an invitation to browse, or buy for just a penny.

Simon said: "A supermarket is the perfect place to smuggle art into a very normal context.

"It takes away any prejudice people may have about contemporary art."

'Things' explores how objects are seen, interacted with and valued and Simon believes placing his work in a supermarket will emphasise the random and sometimes odd nature of the objects he himself encounters.

'Things'
'Things'

He said: "I quite liked the paradox of putting something very thought about and beautiful into functional context."

"When people find the art hopefully they feel like they are in a treasure hunt they didn't know they were entering." - Simon Faithfull

His collection is the fifth project released by Hoodwink as part of a commissioning programme exposing the public to contemporary art in the most unlikely, surprising and exciting of places.

'Things' by Simon Faithfull
'Things' by Simon Faithfull

From 2012 – 2015, Hoodwink are producing nine new commissions by emerging and established international artists for urban and rural commercial environments in Tunbridge Wells and across west Kent.

So if you're planning on picking up your fruit and veg from Morrison's in Tunbridge Wells, you could be pleasantly surprised by this exciting art-form.

The books will be integrated into Morrison's from Thursday.

See Simon's other work at: www.simonfaithfull.org.

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