This artist, Luke Jerram, is placing pianos on city streets and spaces around the world.
As it says on his website, which you should visit btw:
“Located in skate parks, industrial estates, laundrettes, precincts, bus shelters and train stations, outside pubs and football grounds, the pianos are for any member of the public to enjoy and claim ownership of. Who plays them and how long they remain is up to each community. The pianos act as sculptural, musical, blank canvas’s that become a reflection of the communities they are embedded into. Many pianos are personalised and decorated.
Questioning the ownership and rules of public space ‘Play Me I’m Yours’ is a provocation, inviting the public to engage with, activate and take ownership of their urban environment.”
I happen to think that there’s more this, in that I expect that some people will be surprised at finding out another person’s hidden talents. I also think that if you look at the photos, people are coming together and possibly singing along whilst someone plays. I love the way things like this bring communities and people together; it just demonstrates that people do want to have community and that life gets in the way sometimes. Such a simple and original idea.
