514

This lighter is my favourite style to use, adjustable flame size, one button and refillable. And it’s in my favorite colour. The vinyl numbers on the side were from my MA degree. At the time the [local department store] building was being done up, and they had an artist in residence design the scaffolding cover in collaboration with a local art gallery. I am pretty sure it was only to justify some sort of tax relief. As members of the school of art we were asked to make some Birmingham related artwork. And, to give some free workshops alongside the main artist. Who after seeing them around the SOA a few times I came to the conclusion they were a bit of a rude prick. Materials for the artwork and workshops were reimbursed if they were ‘within reason’ but the concept or labour was not. I submitted an artwork titled £15.14. It was a wooden board with three things glued to it. A package of seawhite student coloured pencils, the artist designed card packaging for the pencils and a 14p packet of instant noodles. The cost of everything on the board totaled £15.14. Safe to say I had quite a few dirty looks and funny comments from the store staff. The dirty and half worn away sticker on the back of the lighter tells me I have been holding onto and using this one for a while. Or at least a few really drunk nights with. I am pretty sure the amount of glitter stuck to the dirty label means it has been to Manchester pride with me. Along with coming with me to work on set as an extra for some queerish tv shows.