Barnaby Barford: The Tower of Babel

Wonderful installation at the Victoria and Albert Museum in the Renaissance galleries by Barnaby Barford.

It is a large tower of little bone china shops based on real London buildings, from derelict shops at the bottom to the exclusive boutiques and galleries at the top. It’s a commentary on the economy of the city and, as the website says, likens our search for fulfilment through retail therapy to the aim of the Biblical Tower of Babel to reach heaven.  Each of the shops can be purchased with varying prices based on the rental value of the shops.

I loved this as everywhere you looked on it there was something else to see such as graffiti on the side of a building or a strangely named shop. When I was there the attendant standing with it was very chatty and I spent quite a while talking to her about which shops were selling and which ones we both liked. She really added to the experience. The tower also fitted beautifully in the space. Although in many ways quite incongruous somehow the colours and shape complemented the sculptures and artefacts around it.

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