Output details

MARKET FORCES. (Portfolio Output 2009-13. Installations: Vending Machine (2009); The History of Financial Crises (2009); A Brief History of Privatisation (2011). Exhibitions (Selected): Mejan Labs, Stockholm, Sweden, 16 April - 7 June 2009; Market Forces, Vane Gallery, Newcastle, 1 November - 17 December 2011; Money after Money, Eye of Gyre, Tokyo, Japan, 2 - 26 May 2013. Permanent Collection: Data as Culture, Open Data Institute, London, 2012)

Since 2008, in response to the start of the global economic crisis, Harrison’s research (under the umbrella of Market Forces) has been concerned with investigating, exposing and challenging the absurd consequences of the capitalist system, and the impact free-market forces have on our society and our individual day-to-day lives.

Research has been conducted by literature review, writing and through the creation of art works/installations, collaborative projects and political campaigns. Two installations The History of Financial Crises and Vending Machine use deliberately playful and accessible methodologies to visualise live/historical economic data, to share what may otherwise be obscure information with a broad audience.

The History of Financial Crises, (first exhibited at Mejan Labs, Stockholm for Harrison’s two-person show Transfer and Actions with Casey Reas), used a row of popcorn making machines to re-enact the turbulent history of capitalism over the last century. Whilst Harrison’s Vending Machine was reprogrammed to release free crisps only when search terms relating to the recession make the headlines on the BBC News RSS feed.

The History of Financial Crises formed the centre piece of Harrison’s solo exhibition Market Forces at Vane, Newcastle in 2011 and most recently featured alongside works by Joseph Beuys, Andy Warhol and Julieta Aranda & Anton Vidokle in the exhibition Money after Money in Tokyo curated by Yukiko Shikata. Vending Machine has been exhibited at venues across the UK and Ireland, forming part of Harrison’s solo exhibition A Brief History of Privatisation at Watermans, London in 2011. It now features in Data as Culture - the permanent public collection at the Open Data Institute, London alongside works by Semiconductor, La Société Anonyme and Stanza.