"Carnival in London" is a speculative illustration project that imagines an alternative reality where monotonous and dull commuting is transformed into a fun, upbeat carnival party.
The concept presents itself as a toy theatre in the form of a book to cut out and build.
Special recognitions:
Exhibited at Norman Rea Gallery's "The Grand Finale: Art of the Extravaganza" (York, March 2024)
Date November 2023
Category Paper engineering, Editorial
Institution University of the Arts London
Complete with instructions, 2 different sets, and appropriate characters, the theatre puts on stage some key moments of travelling on public transports in London reinvented as carnivalesque events.
The inspiration comes from the British tradition of illustrated paper toy theatres, once released as a form of souvenir for theatrical pantomimes, whose main characters developed from the Italian carnevale.
Pages from the book to cut out in detail
The complete theatre in detail
The toy theatre's iconography revisits the traditional carnival motifs with the iconic TfL’s branding imagery.
For instance, all the patterns in the characters' costumes are inspired by famous Tube and Bus lines seat patterns, the Tube map, and the TfL logo.
The book also includes two extras to increase engagement. The first is a page that invites the audience to create their own character to add to the toy theatre, as a way to “take part” to the carnival.
The second extra is an activity booklet titled "My Own Carnival - a programme". Inside, an activity sheet is meant to be completed by the participant with practical and fun things to do while travelling (e.g. books to read).
The booklet is meant to be cut out, folded and put in the commuter's bag, for them to check it out when travelling gets tedious. The ultimate purpose is for the adult participant to actively bring the fun and amusement - inherent parts of carnival - into their everyday routine.
Watch the theatre being built!
