Ear Drum

The ‘Laundrette Visitors Book’ took up residence in the laundrette establishments of Brighton and Hove, UK for a few weeks at a time. It prompted users of the laundrette to reflect on their experience of the space whilst prying into their laundry habits. Brighton and Hove has one of the largest private rented sectors in the country, comprised of 28,000 homes – almost a quarter of the entire city’s housing [1]. A large proportion of these homes come without washing machines so it’s no surprise our Laundrettes are busy and well used places.

[1] Housing Strategy 2009-2014: healthy homes, healthy lives, healthy city, Brighton and Hove City Council, 2009

As part of Nuit Blanche White Night 2011, Brighton and Hove’s annual city wide all-night arts festival, findings of the visitors book were showcased in an audio installation inside a washing machine. The piece, titled Ear Drum, was exhibited at LAUNDRY, an evening of live music and art in one of the cities’ dearly loved laundrettes on St James’s St, Kemptown. The evening was curated by Bouffant Collective.

Watch this short showreel for an excerpt of Ear Drum