Bristol-based practitioner Savage has developed a unique and ephemeral practice, often for public space, that are subtle interventions. His practice sets up situations that allow new relationships to occur with consumer objects, raising issues of ownership and even legality. For example Stolen White Goods was a project where Savage (allegedly) stole and photographed several white items from a supermarket such as milk, salt, washing powder and toothpaste.
His practice is often set up as a collaboration with unsuspecting members of the public, such as Negative Pricing where unsuspecting people bought items from a department store, only to find out that Savage had already paid for them. The actual cost of the item was subsequently refunded, rather than debited, to the purchaser’s bank account.
For On Purpose Savage has set up an intervention with the Arnolfini’s lighting system in its public areas. Discreetly positioned domestic light-switches, within the buildings circulation areas allow the lights in certain spaces to be switched on or off to an unsuspecting public. The positioning of the switches in relation to the affected public areas appears somewhat illogical, with the public not necessarily having direct vision of the lighting they are apparently in control of. This also includes the exhibition space, where the usual function of lighting exhibits will, on occasion, be denied.